Sa’ar says Turkish FM’s remarks a ‘clear call for genocide’

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’aron Monday accused his Turkish counterpart of making a “clear call for genocide,” condemning recent rhetoric as a dangerous escalation of dehumanization.

Speaking in Jerusalem alongside Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, Sa’ar responded to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s description of the Jewish state as a “burden that humanity can no longer bear.” Sa’ar warned that framing a people as a problem for humanity echoes historical language that preceded widespread atrocities.

“The Jewish people know very well what happens when such words are allowed to go unchallenged,” Sa’ar said, noting that Turkey is slated to host a NATO summit on Tuesday. “The first step on the road to genocide is dehumanization.”

Following the diplomatic remarks, Sa’ar and Nduhungirehe signed bilateral agreements to advance cooperation in education, vocational training and international development.