Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Germany today. There, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense. “Israel’s right to exist is irrefutable for us,” Scholz said before his meeting with Erdogan. Israel has “the right under international law to defend itself.” At the same time, Germany is one of the biggest supporters of humanitarian aid to the population of the Gaza Strip. The government is against all anti-Semitism in Germany and against the exclusion of the country’s five million Muslims.
APA/AFP/Tobis Schwarz
Before the meeting, Erdogan reiterated his criticism of Israel. “We are talking about 13 thousand children, women, elderly people who were killed,” he said. Furthermore, there is almost no Gaza Strip left. “Everything was destroyed.” Together with Germany, Turkey should work towards a ceasefire.
In Berlin, Erdogan indirectly recognized the right to exist of the Jewish State. What is needed is a two-state solution within the 1967 borders, he said. The aim must be that Israelis and Palestinians can “live side by side in peace”.
Reception in Steinmeier
Erdogan was earlier received by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace. In his conversation with Erdogan, Steinmeier “made clear” the German position on the war in the Middle East, as the Office of the German Federal President announced after the conversation. “The Federal President underlined the classification of Hamas’ attack on Israel as a terrorist attack and Hamas as a terrorist organization. He emphasized Israel’s right to exist and its right to self-defense.” Steinmeier was reacting to Erdogan’s harsh verbal attacks against Israel in connection with the war in the Middle East.
According to the Office of the Federal President, both heads of state agreed that all efforts should be directed towards helping to free the hostages and prevent the conflict from spreading regionally.
Erdogan’s first visit to Germany in three years is expected to end in the evening. According to police, around 2,800 officers were deployed to the German capital because of the Turkish guest. This significantly increased the number in the short term.