German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's accusation of fascism against Israel "absurd" ahead of their scheduled talks in Berlin. Scholz emphasized that Israel is a democracy that abides by human rights and international law. Erdogan's visit to Germany has been controversial due to his criticisms of Israel and his support for Hamas. Scholz's spokesperson stated that it is important to engage with difficult partners to make progress on various issues.