Criticism from Foreign Ministers precedes Erdogan's visit over his remarks on the Gaza conflict
This Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is making his first visit to Germany in three years. However, the signs for this visit are not good, according to Christian Gehring, the interior policy spokesman for the CDU in Baden-Württemberg.
Erdogan's comments on Hamas and Israel have strained relations with Germany, a country that strongly condemns the terror perpetrated by Hamas and supports Israel's right to self-defense. Germany also calls for a negotiated two-state solution as the best way for Israelis and Palestinians to coexist peacefully.
Erdogan's recent statements, such as describing Hamas as freedom fighters and questioning Israel's counter-offensive in Gaza, have raised concerns in Germany. The Turkish Community in Baden-Württemberg and many political figures, including Julia Goll from the FDP and Sascha Binder from the SPD, have criticized these statements.
Goll expects Chancellor Scholz to clearly state Germany's position on Israel and Hamas to Erdogan during their meeting in Berlin. She also expects Scholz to make it clear to Erdogan how his statements are received in Germany.
The dialogue between Erdogan and Scholz will focus on the Middle East crisis, migration, and other bilateral issues. However, the relationship remains sensitive and strained due to Erdogan's vocal stance on the conflict and concerns in Germany over human rights and democracy in Turkey.
Scholz has previously described Erdogan's accusations against Israel as "absurd." He is expected to address these differences during their meeting. Gökay Sofuoglu, chairman of the Turkish Community, has stated that Hamas is a terrorist organization.
In a recent move, Germany halted military deliveries to Israel that could be used in Gaza operations, reflecting public pressure within Germany to exert more influence over Israeli policy during the conflict.
Despite the tensions, the Greens, CDU, SPD, and FDP agree that Erdogan is a problematic partner but necessary to engage with. Daniel Lede Abal, spokesman for migration of the Greens, expressed a wish for less polarization from Erdogan.
As the visit approaches, Erdogan's statements on the Gaza conflict continue to cast a shadow over the meeting. Erdogan described the terrorist organization Hamas as freedom fighters defending their land and citizens. He also said that Israel's counter-offensive should be examined to see if it amounts to genocide.
The meeting between Erdogan and Scholz is expected to be a delicate one, with both leaders facing pressure from their respective constituencies. The outcome of this meeting could shape the future of relations between Turkey and Germany.
[1] German government statement on Israel and Hamas (URL) [2] German government stance on Turkey and the Middle East (URL) [3] Germany halts military deliveries to Israel (URL) [4] Public pressure for influence over Israeli policy (URL)
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, particularly the Gaza conflict, have strained diplomatic relations between Turkey and Germany, as Turkey's President Erdogan's policy-and-legislation regarding Israel and Hamas have raised general-news concerns in Germany.
- In response to Erdogan's controversial statements, politics within Germany have leaned towards challenging Erdogan's stance, with calls for Chancellor Scholz to address these issues during their meeting and to clarify Germany's position on Israel and Hamas.
