Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, accused Israel of perpetrating 50 Holocausts on the Arab people. Shockingly, Scholz stood by, silent.

While Scholz later used Twitter to suggest he was disgusted by Abbas’ comments, at the time the remarks were made—when such a statement would have had meaning—he stayed mum.

“I am disgusted by the outrageous remarks made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas,” Scholz tweeted. “For us Germans in particular, any relativization of the singularity of the Holocaust is intolerable and unacceptable. I condemn any attempt to deny the crimes of the Holocaust.”

I am disgusted by the outrageous remarks made by Palestinian President Mahmoud #Abbas. For us Germans in particular, any relativization of the singularity of the Holocaust is intolerable and unacceptable. I condemn any attempt to deny the crimes of the Holocaust.

— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) August 17, 2022

Abbas’ offensive remarks were issued in response to a request by a reporter that he apologize for the Munich Olympics murder of 11 Israelis by Arab terrorists in 1972, an attack masterminded by Abbas. Abbas replied, “If you want to go over the past, go ahead. I have 50 slaughters that Israel committed…50 massacres, 50 slaughters…50 holocausts.”

Scholz appears to grimace in the video of the conference. But words should have been said, and they should have been said right there on the spot.

Oh, well. When it comes to Germany, the old saying still holds true: “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.”