The German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, has repudiated this Sunday as "totally inappropriate" the recent statements by his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in which he describes Israel as a "common problem" for all of humanity.
In a conversation with the Turkish branch of the CNN network, Fidan stated that both "Israeli policy and mentality have become a burden that humanity cannot bear," words that have provoked a harsh response from the head of German diplomacy just days before a NATO summit begins in Ankara.
"Israel is exposed to a constant threat in the region and has the right and the duty to protect its population," Wadephul stated in declarations to the newspaper 'Bild', thus reaffirming the traditional stance of the current German conservative executive, a firm ally of the Israeli government.
Fidan's words come after Israel officially recognized the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire last week. The Turkish executive, which admits massacres but denies the existence of a systematic extermination policy, has criticized the Israeli decision, considering it a political maneuver of reprisal and distraction.
The parliamentary group of The Left in the Bundestag has also shown its rejection of the Turkish minister's statements. Its spokesperson for foreign policy, Cansu Özdemir, stated to the newspaper 'Die Welt' that Fidan's words are "dehumanizing and extremely dangerous."