Germany, Turkey leaders trade barbs over Israel's war on Gaza

Germany and Turkey's leaders traded barbs Friday over Israel's war on Gaza, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressing what he called Israel's right to "self-defence" while Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded an end to Israel's indiscriminate bombardment, which has so far killed over 12,000 people.

Erdogan is on a highly controversial visit to staunch Israel ally Germany, made more tricky by his recent comments directed against Israel.

The Turkish leader has branded Israel a "terror state" and repeatedly defended Gaza's Hamas rulers as "liberators" fighting for their land.

Erdogan did not repeat such statements in Berlin but nevertheless lashed out at Israel over its deadly air and ground campaign in Gaza, which has flattened entire districts and targeted hospitals and schools where hundreds of civilians were sheltering.

"Shooting hospitals or killing children does not exist in the Torah, you can't do it," he said at a joint press conference ahead of dinner with Scholz.

In talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier earlier Friday, Erdogan had said that "Israel's attacks on Palestinian lands must end and that the reaction from the whole world against human rights violations is important", the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

But Scholz voiced backing for Israel's war on Gaza, saying that long-term peace could not be forged in the region unless Hamas lost its ability to launch attacks.

"There is a need to make Israel's self-defence possible and not to call it into question," he said.

'Difficult moments'

Erdogan has been increasingly critical of Israel's war against Gaza, which began after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people with around 240 hostages taken.

While Scholz travelled to Israel to offer Germany's unconditional support, the Turkish leader has accused Israel of committing war crimes with its bombardment and ground incursion in Gaza.

The death toll there has hit 12,000, mostly civilians and including thousands of children, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Ahead of his trip to Germany, Erdogan ramped up his verbal attacks against Israel, calling it a "terror state" and alleging the West was "trying to exonerate the murderers".

In Berlin, Erdogan denied that his attacks against Israel were anti-Semitic, saying that he had "fought against anti-Semitism".

Instead, he suggested that Germany, where anti-Semitism is illegal because of Berlin's historic responsibilities over the Holocaust, was limited in its ability to speak freely about the Israel-Hamas war.

"I speak freely because we do not owe Israel anything. We did not go through the Holocaust," Erdogan said, suggesting that Germany carried a "psychological debt".

"If we were in debt, we could not talk so freely. But those who are in debt cannot talk freely," he said.

During his visit to Germany, President Erdoğan, while with Olaf Scholz, said, ‘We can’t assess Israel’s atrocities with a feeling of guilt. We don’t owe them that. Others might, but we haven’t experienced the Holocaust.’
pic.twitter.com/p7KjYOZBt0

— Abdurrahim Boynukalın (@A_Boynukalin) November 17, 2023

Erdogan's stance had sparked questions in Germany over the decision to host him at this time, with the opposition conservatives and even the liberal FDP, a member of Scholz's coalition, urging the chancellor to scrap the invitation.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily said Germany offered the "ideal stage" for Erdogan to position himself as a voice for the "global south".

"As the loudest critic of Israel, he is underlining his demand for leadership of the Islamic world," it wrote.

Standing next to Erdogan, Scholz acknowledged "it is no secret" that both sides viewed the conflict differently.

"That's why in these difficult moments, we need direct talks with each other," he said.

'Uncomfortable partner' 

Described as an "uncomfortable partner" by Scholz's spokesman, Erdogan was on his first visit to Germany since 2020.

While ties between the two countries have always been uneasy, Berlin recognises that getting regional power Turkey onside was necessary to tackle thorny issues.

From mediating to get grain shipments out of Ukraine amid Russia's war to negotiating a key deal on alleviating the 2015-2016 migrant influx into Europe, NATO member Turkey remains a crucial player.

Germany is also home to the biggest Turkish diaspora, and a majority of Turks in the country are supporters of Erdogan, including former German international footballer Mesut Ozil.