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Felix Klein, Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Semitism
Photo: Soeren Stache / dpa
Despite the blatant downplaying of the Holocaust by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his recent visit to the Chancellery in Berlin, the Federal Government's Anti-Semitism Commissioner, Felix Klein, spoke out in favor of not letting the thread of conversation with him break.
Abbas had "repeatedly attracted attention with oral and written statements about Israel," said Klein on Wednesday evening in an interview with the ARD "Tagesthemen".
On the other hand, he is the representative of the Palestinians, "and we have to deal with him now."
He hopes that the Palestinian side has also learned "that such statements are unacceptable in Germany," said Klein.
Abbas said at a joint press conference on Tuesday after meeting Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) that Israel had committed "50 massacres, 50 holocausts" against Palestinians since 1947.
He was asked about a possible Palestinian apology for the 1972 Olympics attack in Munich. Abbas qualified his statements on Wednesday.
Klein protects Scholz
Despite the incident, the federal government's anti-Semitism commissioner protected Scholz, although he did not immediately contradict Abbas' statement on the spot and was therefore heavily criticized.
From his point of view, it was primarily "a communication problem between the Chancellor and his government spokesman," said Klein.
With the statement of the government spokesman in the federal press conference, everything has already been said.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit had ended the press conference without the chancellor being able to comment on Abbas' words.
On Wednesday, the spokesman admitted a serious error in directing the press conference, saying he "did not react quickly enough" to Abbas's comments to give the chancellor an opportunity to respond.
He had to “take responsibility for the mistake”.
Klein emphasized on ARD that "the Chancellor's attitude towards Israel and Israel-related anti-Semitism is very clear."
The chancellor is "on solid ground" and will "certainly have the opportunity to comment on this in the coming days and weeks."
"It might not be ideal when you have an international guest who reacts in a way you don't expect," said Klein.
The scandal could be taken as an opportunity "to see how one can prepare for such occasions".
FDP General Secretary: No progress with this generation of Palestinian politicians
The Secretary General of the FDP, Bijan Djir-Sarai, spoke critically of Abbas.
His statements are counterproductive with regard to the peace process in the Middle East.
»Once again it is becoming clear that no progress in the peace process can be expected from this generation of Palestinian politicians.
Abbas didn't do the Palestinians any favors with his appearance in Berlin," Djir-Sarai told the Rheinische Post.
"To make tasteless and historically incorrect claims about the Holocaust in Germany of all places represents a tremendous provocation." The statements by the Palestinian President are "absolutely unacceptable and downright grotesque."
The CDU followed up on its criticism of the Chancellor's appearance.
The vice chair of the German-Israeli parliamentary group, Gitta Connemann, demanded an apology from Scholz.
It was a scandal that the chancellor remained silent after Abbas' statements "and then shook hands with Abbas," she told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
The chancellor's silence harms Germany in terms of foreign policy, "first and foremost towards Israel."
The chancellor must limit the damage and explain himself.
"And he has to apologize," said the CDU politician.
Auschwitz Committee: Scholz unprepared
Scholz received support from the ranks of the Greens.
Lamya Kaddor, member of the Bundestag, also accused the Chancellor of making mistakes, but rejected the far-reaching allegations against him.
It was "absolutely inappropriate" to want to gain political capital from Scholz's behavior, as the CDU is trying to do.
The International Auschwitz Committee complained that Scholz had insufficiently prepared himself “for provocations to be expected” from Abbas.
"It is also a duping of the chancellor and an attempt to build up pressure against the federal government and against Olaf Scholz," said Executive Vice President Christoph Heubner to the newspapers of the Funke media group.
col/AFP/dpa