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Berlin police have launched a preliminary investigation into Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ remarks this week about Israel’s “50 massacres” of Palestinians.
The remarks sparked outrage in Germany, Israel and elsewhere at a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Schultz in Berlin.
Police confirmed a report by German daily Bild that Abbas was under investigation after receiving formal criminal charges for inciting hatred.
Downplaying the Holocaust is a criminal offense in Germany, but opening an initial investigation does not automatically lead to a full investigation.
Germany’s foreign ministry said that as a representative of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Abbas would enjoy immunity from prosecution because he was visiting the country in an official capacity.
Germany does not recognize Palestinian territories as a sovereign state, a position Mr. Scholz reiterated on Tuesday.
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