Germany Condemns Turkish FM's Remarks Against Israel as 'Unacceptable'

Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Sunday condemned recent statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan against Israel, calling them "clearly unacceptable." The rebuke came after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar appealed directly to NATO allies to speak out against what he described as blatant incitement to genocide.

"The recent statements by the Turkish foreign minister against Israel are clearly unacceptable," Wadephul said. "Israel faces an ongoing threat in the region, and it has the right and duty to defend its citizens." Wadephul is scheduled to visit Israel on Tuesday before traveling to the NATO summit in Turkey.

The dispute traces back to an interview Fidan gave last week to a Turkish television network, in which he sharply escalated his rhetoric against Israel. "Israel is not only Turkey's problem, but a problem for the entire world," Fidan said, adding that "the Israeli authorities have become a burden that humanity can no longer bear." He also called on other countries to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel and impose sanctions.

Sa'ar responded with sharp condemnation. "The sickening statements of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan are clear incitement to genocide," he said. "Dehumanizing the Jewish people and presenting it as an 'unbearable burden' is the classic language of the great oppressors in history. The enlightened world and Turkey's NATO allies must unequivocally condemn this explicit call for Israel's destruction." The appeal was directed personally at his German counterpart, who responded the same day.

President Isaac Herzog also spoke out on Sunday, addressing a state memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem marking the anniversary of Theodor Herzl's death. Herzog said he had heard "a terrible antisemitic statement" from a senior Turkish official. "A few days ago, I heard a senior official in the Turkish administration claim that 'Israel is a burden on the world.' My answer to him is simple: Israel is here to stay, and it is a blessing to the world," he declared.

Herzog pointed to Israel's global contributions. "Israel stands at the forefront against the terrorism threatening the entire world. Around the world, Israeli innovations and inventions bring blessings to billions of people every day," he said. He also used the occasion to call for national unity ahead of upcoming Israeli elections, urging citizens to remember that the arguments of today will be forgotten, while what is built together will endure.

The exchange reflects a broader deterioration in Israel-Turkey relations since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been among the most vocal critics of Israeli military operations, and Fidan has repeatedly pressed that position in international forums. Wadephul's visit to Israel on Tuesday, just days before German and Turkish officials are set to share a table at the NATO summit, underscores how sharply divided alliance members remain over the conflict.