Scholz calls Erdogan’s fascism accusation against Israel ‘absurd’

By AFP 14 November 2023, 2:59 pm 4 Edit

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives a joint press conference with the Greek prime minister (not in picture) following talks at the Chancellery in Berlin on November 14, 2023. (Odd Andersen / AFP)

Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s accusation of fascism against Israel is “absurd,” days before the German leader is due to host the Turkish president for talks in Berlin.

Israel “is a democracy” and “a country that is bound to human rights and international law and acts accordingly. Therefore, the accusations against Israel are absurd,” Scholz tells a press conference.

He is responding to a question about Erdogan’s comment on Friday that Israel’s legitimacy is “being questioned due to its own fascism.”