On Sunday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned recent remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan against Israel, following a call by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
Sa’ar called on NATO leaders to condemn what he described as Fidan’s “sickening” remarks, calling them “clear incitement to genocide” on Friday.
“Dehumanizing the Jewish people and presenting it as an ‘unbearable burden’ is the classic language of the great oppressors in history,” Sa’ar said. “The enlightened world and Turkey’s NATO allies must unequivocally condemn this explicit call for Israel’s destruction.”
Wadephul said that “the recent statements by the Turkish foreign minister against Israel are clearly unacceptable. Israel faces an ongoing threat in the region, and it has the right and duty to defend its citizens.”
Wadephul is scheduled to visit Israel on Tuesday and meet with Sa’ar, before continuing to a NATO meeting.
Sa’ar’s remarks came after Fidan gave an interview last week to CNN Türk, in which he sharpened his criticism of Israel. Fidan said that “Israel is not only Turkey’s problem, but a problem for the entire world,” adding that “the Israeli authorities have become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.”
He called on other countries to take action against Israel, including increasing diplomatic pressure and imposing sanctions.
Following the interview, Sa’ar accused Fidan of “clear incitement to genocide,” saying that describing Israel as “a burden that humanity can no longer bear” amounted to dehumanization and used language associated, in his words, with “the great oppressors in history.”
