Jerusalem, 18 August, 2022 (TPS) — Prime Minister Yair Lapid spoke on Thursday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about the comments made the other day by the chairman of the Palestinian Authority (PA) Mahmoud Abbas accusing Israel of committing “50 Holocausts” against the Palestinians.
The Israel Prime Minister’s Office said that at the start of their conversation, the German Chancellor emphasized that he rejects and condemns Mahmoud Abbas’ remarks and that it was important for him to clarify this personally to the Prime Minister, as well as publicly.
Prime Minister Lapid thanked him, both as the Prime Minister of Israel and as the son of Holocaust survivors.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of ties between Israel and Germany and agreed to continue the cooperation between their two countries in various fields.
Mahmoud Abbas; comments came at a joint press conference held in Berlin together with Chancellor Scholz. They came after the leader of the PA was asked about the upcoming 50th anniversary of the murder of Israeli athletes by Arab terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Abbas seemed annoyed by the question itself. Stuck on the number 50, he went on about Israel having committed 50 “slaughters” against Arabs over the years and 50 “massacres,” and even 50 “holocausts.”
The Prime Minister and the German Chancellor also discussed the Iranian nuclear issue.
Yair Lapid reiterated Israel’s opposition to a return to the nuclear agreement, and the need for Europe to send a clear and unequivocal message that there will be no more concessions to Iran.
He added that Europe must oppose Iran from buying time in negotiations.
The two leaders agreed to meet soon, as a reflection of the close relations between their two countries.