Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his criticism of Israel as he met German politicians during a tense one-day visit to Berlin on Friday.
The Turkish leader has repeatedly branded Israel a “terror state” and defended Gaza's rulers Hamas as “liberators” fighting for their land.
The comments have not be well received in Germany, traditionally one of Israel's strongest backers within the EU.
Mr Erdogan again condemned Israel's military invasion of Gaza as he appeared alongside Chancellor Olaf Scholz ahead of their diplomatic talks.
It comes as the death toll in Gaza climbed to 12,000, including thousands of children.
“As of now, 13,000 Palestinian children, women and elderly have been killed," Mr Erdogan said in a joint press conference. "There is almost no place named Gaza anymore, everything has been destroyed.”
The Turkish President defended himself against charges of anti-Semitism as he argued that “shooting hospitals or killing children does not exist in the Torah”.
“For us, there should be no discrimination between Jews, Christians and Muslims in the region. I have fought against anti-Semitism,” Mr Erdogan said. “I am a leader who is leading this fight.”
Mr Scholz said he and Mr Erdogan had"different views on the current conflict” but “particularly at difficult moments, we need to speak directly to each other”.
“Hamas's attack means that Israel must protect itself and must be able to defend itself,” he said.
“It cannot remain the case that a terror organisation that rules this region undertakes such activities from there again”.
At the same time, Mr Scholz said it was important to “do everything to keep the number of civilian victims as small as possible” and stressed that “the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza also depresses us”.
Mr Erdogan appeared to suggest that Germany, a country where anti-Semitism is illegal because of Berlin's historic responsibilities over the Holocaust, was limited in its ability to speak freely about the Israel-Gaza war.
“I speak freely because we do not owe Israel anything. We did not go through the Holocaust,” Mr Erdogan said, suggesting Germany carried a “psychological debt”.
Mr Erdogan's trip to Germany was his first to a western country since Israel began bombarding Gaza in response to Hamas's attacks on October 7.
Earlier, he met Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace on Friday afternoon.
According to police, about 2,800 officers were deployed in the capital due to the Turkish President's visit.
Germany is also home to the biggest Turkish diaspora and a majority of Turks in the country are supporters of Mr Erdogan, including former German international footballer Mesut Ozil.
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Fixtures
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20April%203%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArsenal%20v%20Luton%20Town%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EManchester%20City%20v%20Aston%20Villa%2C%2011.15pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThursday%2C%20April%204%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELiverpool%20v%20Sheffield%20United%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TOURNAMENT INFO
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Thursday results
UAE beat Kuwait by 86 runs
Qatar beat Bahrain by five wickets
Saudi Arabia beat Maldives by 35 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, third-place playoff – Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
3pm, final – UAE v Qatar
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Shipping%20and%20banking%20
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Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
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Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections
6.30pm: Final Song
7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo
7.40pm: Dubai Icon
8.15pm: Dubai Legacy
8.50pm: Drafted
9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
