Palestinian chief’s feedback on Holocaust draw accusations of antisemitism from U.S. and Europe

JERUSALEM — The United States, Germany and the European Union on Thursday condemned current feedback in regards to the Holocaust by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, accusing him of distorting historical past and selling antisemitic stereotypes.

In a speech final month to senior members of his Fatah motion, Abbas mentioned that Adolf Hitler killed European Jews not due to antisemitism, however due to their “social functions” in society, similar to cash lending.

“These people were fought because of their social function related to money, usury,” Abbas mentioned within the speech. “From Hitler’s point of view, they were sabotaging, and therefore he hated them.”

The speech was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute, a suppose tank in Washington that interprets speeches from Arabic and different languages for Western audiences. Critics have accused MEMRI of selling a pro-Israel agenda.

In the Holocaust, 6 million Jews had been murdered by the Nazis and their allies. Hitler thought of the Jews to be an inferior race and viciously promoted antisemitic stereotypes to incite towards Europe’s Jews because the Third Reich carried out the genocide.

Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. particular envoy to observe and fight antisemitism, mentioned she was appalled by what she referred to as Abbas’ “hateful, antisemitic remarks.” In a submit on X, previously referred to as Twitter, she mentioned Abbas had maligned the Jewish individuals and distorted the Holocaust. She referred to as for a right away apology.

Steffen Seibert, Germany’s ambassador to Israel, mentioned Abbas’ speech was “an insult to the memory of millions of murdered men, women and children.”

“The Palestinians deserve to hear the historical truth from their leader, not such distortions,” he added.

In an announcement, the European Union mentioned the feedback “trivialize the Holocaust and thereby fuel antisemitism.”

Dani Dayan, the chairman of Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, accused Abbas of Holocaust denial and distortion and selling antisemitic stereotypes. “These reprehensible remarks must be unequivocally condemned by global leaders,” he tweeted.

Abbas has beforehand confronted accusations of antisemitism. Last 12 months, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Abbas for accusing Israel of committing “ 50 Holocausts ” towards the Palestinians. Abbas later apologized.

Abbas additionally apologized in 2017 following a speech that mentioned Jewish cash lending had brought about animosity towards them in Europe and dismissed the Jewish connection to the Holy Land. At the time, he condemned antisemitism and referred to as the Holocaust “the most heinous crime in history.”

In his doctoral thesis within the Seventies, Abbas additionally questioned the extent of the Nazi genocide. He has since distanced himself from these assertions.

Abbas’ workplace didn’t instantly touch upon the newest criticism of his remarks.