German and Israeli officials have strongly criticized Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for his recent comments about Jews and the Nazi Holocaust during a speech. In his address, Mr. Abbas asserted that Adolf Hitler ordered the mass murder of Jews not out of animosity towards Judaism but because of their “social role” as moneylenders. This assertion has sparked outrage, with Israel’s ambassador to the UN denouncing it as “pure antisemitism.”
Germany’s Ramallah mission underlined the historical facts, emphasizing that millions of lives were lost in the Holocaust, and such atrocities cannot be downplayed or relativized. They stressed the importance of preserving a dignified and accurate memory of the Holocaust victims. German Ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, emphasized the need for Palestinians to hear the historical truth from their leader rather than distorted perspectives.
Adolf Hitler used the Jewish people as a scapegoat for Germany’s problems and considered them an inferior race that needed to be exterminated. Mr. Abbas, who is 87 years old, has faced criticism from Jewish groups in the past for his views, including his doctoral thesis on the Nazis and Zionism. Despite these controversies, he continues to deliver speeches expounding his offensive beliefs.
During his recent address to the Fatah Revolutionary Council, Mr. Abbas reiterated his controversial views, including the theory that European Ashkenazi Jews are not descendants of ancient Israelites but rather 8th Century converts from the Khazars, a nomadic Turkic people. He stated that European Jews are not Semites, while Sephardic Jews from the Middle East are.
Mr. Abbas’s intent in making such claims is to dispute the connection between the Jewish people and modern-day Israel, a topic central to the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the historical narratives of both parties involved.
The content of Mr. Abbas’s speech was shared on social media by the Israeli foreign ministry and drew condemnation from various quarters, including the European Union. The EU described the speech as “false and grossly misleading,” emphasizing that such historical distortions are inflammatory, offensive, and can worsen tensions in the region.
This controversy follows Mr. Abbas’s past statements, such as likening Israel to Nazi Germany and accusing the country of numerous “massacres” and “holocausts.” International outrage has repeatedly erupted over his remarks, highlighting the need for accountability and sensitivity when discussing the Holocaust and related topics.