German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s accusation of fascism against Israel as “absurd” ahead of Erdogan’s upcoming visit to Berlin. Scholz emphasized that Israel is a democracy bound by human rights and international law. Erdogan’s visit has sparked controversy due to his critical remarks on Israel and characterizing Hamas as “liberators.” Germany acknowledges the challenges of dealing with difficult partners but sees dialogue as crucial to making progress on various issues. Following his visit to Berlin, Erdogan plans to visit Egypt and host Iran’s president in the coming weeks.