Klein zu Scholz reaction: “Above all a communication problem”

The federal anti-Semitism commissioner, Klein, has defended Scholz’s reaction to Palestinian President Abbas. Abbas harmed the government’s efforts to “win Muslims over for our culture of remembrance,” Klein said in the daily topics.

The Federal Anti-Semitism Commissioner, Felix Klein, sees Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s silent reaction to the Holocaust statements by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the end of the joint press conference primarily as a communication problem. In the daily topics Klein said that in his opinion it was “primarily a communication problem between the chancellor and his government spokesman”. The latter had already commented on this at the federal press conference. “That pretty much says it all,” says Klein.

The Chancellor’s position on Israel and Israel-related anti-Semitism is “very clear,” said Klein. Scholz will have opportunities to comment on this in the near future, for example on the 50th anniversary of the Olympic attack in September. “I’m sure he’ll say the right thing then.” He thinks Scholz will comment again. “It’s not optimal when you have an international guest who reacts in a way you don’t expect.” But you could take that as an opportunity to see how you can prepare for “such occasions”.

“Israel-Related Antisemitism”

Even if Abbas has backtracked in the meantime, his statement in which Abbas compared the Holocaust with the actions of the Israelis was a “very clear case of Israel-related anti-Semitism. We cannot tolerate that,” said Klein The federal government was harmed, “because we are also trying to win over the Muslims who live here, the Palestinian community, to our culture of remembrance”. Even backtracking will not change anything. But he hopes that the Palestinian side has learned that such statements in were unacceptable to Germany.

The events in Berlin would have shown how difficult it is to react correctly in a situation in which one is initially perplexed. In general, this shows that intervention and civil courage are important, says Klein. “We can use this as an example for the future that we have to be vigilant and not accept any form of anti-Semitism.”

Scholz reacts after the press conference

During a press conference with Scholz in Israel’s Chancellery yesterday, Abbas accused the Palestinians of multiple holocausts. “Israel has committed 50 massacres in 50 Palestinian locations from 1947 to the present day,” he said, adding, “50 massacres, 50 holocausts,” Abbas said.

Government spokesman Hebestreit then ended the press conference. From Scholz, who was outraged ARD correspondent Christian Feld although it was clear to see, there was no immediate response to Abbas’ testimony. Just yesterday evening, the chancellor told the “Bild”: “Especially for us Germans, any relativization of the Holocaust is intolerable and unacceptable.” The SPD politician made a corresponding statement today on Twitter. He condemned any attempt to “deny the crimes of the Holocaust,” he wrote.

Government spokesman is looking for mistakes in himself

Hebestreit blamed his own misconduct for the fact that Scholz no longer had the opportunity to react to Abbas’ statement. Hebestreit said he was not attentive enough and did not react quickly enough – referring to the end of the press conference he initiated after Abbas’ statement. “That was my mistake and I have to take responsibility for it,” said the government spokesman.

Scholz criticized him directly for this and emphasized that he would have liked to have said something. Hebestreit emphasized that the chancellor then took a stand “very quickly after the press conference” in the press and in the public sphere. He explained that the Chancellor regretted that he “was not able to intervene a second time” and react directly at the said press conference.

At the same time, Hebestreit reiterated his criticism of Abbas’ statement on behalf of the chancellor. Scholz said through his spokesman: “A relativization of the Holocaust with its more than six million dead is completely unacceptable, and doing this on German soil is completely inexcusable.” Scholz expects the Palestinian President to fully recognize the singularity of the Holocaust. The “derailment” cast a “dark shadow” on mutual relationships, according to Hebestreit.

Abbas puts statements into perspective

Abbas himself commented on his statements in the Chancellery the day after his Holocaust statements. “President Abbas reiterates that the Holocaust is the most heinous crime in modern human history,” wrote the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Accordingly, Abbas now emphasized that he did not want to question the uniqueness of the Holocaust in Berlin. Rather, he meant “the crimes and massacres against the Palestinian people that Israel’s armed forces have committed since the Nakba.” These crimes “have not stopped to this day”.