‘Not about Antisemitism’: PA Chairman Abbas Claims Hitler ‘Fought’ the Jews Because ‘They Dealt with Usury’

Abbas says Hitler and the Europeans did not kill the Jews “because they were Jews,” but rather they fought the Jews because of “their social role.”

By MEMRI

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed antisemitism in a speech delivered at the 11th session of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, on August 24, 2023.

He said that the “truth” is that European Jews are not Semites, they are the descendants of Khazars, and therefore their persecution has nothing to do with antisemitism.

Abbas added that Karl Marx confirmed that this is so.

He continued to say that Hitler and the Europeans did not kill the Jews “because they were Jews,” but rather they fought the Jews because of “their social role, and not their religion.” Abbas explained that Hitler “fought” the Jews because they dealt with usury and money, not because of antisemitism.

He added that the eastern Jews were indeed Semites, because they had originated from the Arabian Peninsula and then traveled to Andalusia.

Later in his speech, Abbas claimed that Ben Gurion had not wanted Jews from Arab countries to immigrate to Israel, but was forced to accept them upon Churchill’s urging, because there were no more Jews left in Europe. He said that Ben Gurion carried out attacks on Jewish institutions in Arab countries in order to persuade them to emigrate. Abbas stated: “the Jews did not want to emigrate but were forced to do so by means of pressure, coercion, and murder.”

Abbas discussed the Balfour Declaration, saying that the U.S. was a partner to it and that Israel was invented by “Britain and America – not just Britain.” He added that he is “saying this so that we know who we should accuse of being our enemy.”