Whilst we found Mahmoud Abbas’ words despicable, we are not surprised when he compared Israeli Defence Forces fighting against brutal terrorism, to the Holocaust committed by the German Nazis.
Although Abbas’ office issued a clarification, that he was not denying the Holocaust, the statement went on to repeat how the Palestinian people have been massacred by Israelis since 1947.
The Palestinian leader continues to distort and rewrite history with his disinformation and lies. But this time it began, because a reporter simply asked Abbas while he stood at a press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, if he wished to apologise to Israel and Germany for the Munich Massacre.
On 5 September 1972, “Black September” (a faction of Fatah) broke into the Olympic Village in Munich to kidnap 11 Israeli athletes who were subsequently murdered a few days later, along with a German police officer.
Abbas replied in Arabic: “If we want to go over the past, go ahead. “I have 50 slaughters that Israel committed….50 massacres, 50 slaughters, 50 holocausts,” taking care to pronounce the word “Holocaust” in English.
Two days later the German government is still shocked and disgusted by Abbas comments. Chancellor Scholz described them as “outrageous remarks.”
The reprehensible and unfounded comparison between the Holocaust and the IDF is Holocaust denial. Moreover, the refusal to condemn such a heinous crime as the Munich Olympic Massacre, even after 50 years, which a faction of his own organisation committed, is not a man who seeks peace.
Abbas continues to rewrite history and distort reality, while Israel builds for peace with all nations. But it will never compromise on its security and protection for the Jewish people.
