"We owe nothing to Israel", Erdogan links German support with the guilt of the Holocaust

Turkey reconciles with Germany, but opposing attitudes remain. The split between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was highlighted by the war in Gaza.

The Turkish leader suggested that Germany supports Israel because of the weight of guilt it feels from the Holocaust.

"We owe nothing to Israel. If we were in debt, then we wouldn't be able to speak so freely," Erdogan said.

"The Middle East has long been a region of great tension. Because it is our neighboring region, we cannot be indifferent to what is happening there. Mr. President, it is no secret that we have different, sometimes very different views on the current conflict. This is exactly why our talks are important", added Scholz.

In the first visit in four years, Erdogan proposed joint mediation between Germany and Turkey to establish peace between Israel and Palestine.

"Steinmeier will travel to Israel in a week. I have asked him: Please you deal with one side, we deal with the other, and let's try together to secure this humanitarian ceasefire," the Turkish leader added.

Erdogan said earlier this week that Israel was a "terrorist state" committing war crimes and genocide in Gaza, while warning that the end of the Jewish state is coming even if it possesses nuclear weapons. 

  (A2 Televizion)