Afrasianet - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called US President Donald Trump 's proposal for US control of the Gaza Strip and the transfer of its population to other countries a "scandal".
In a televised debate Sunday with his conservative opponent Friedrich Merz ahead of Germany's Feb. 23 legislative elections, Scholz said that "the transfer of Gaza's residents is unacceptable and contrary to international law." Meretz agreed.
Trump has proposed that the United States take control of the Gaza Strip and move its residents to Jordan or Egypt.
Trump's proposal to remove more than two million Palestinians living in Gaza from the Strip and redevelop it has sparked global condemnation and outrage in the Arab and Muslim world.
Despite criticism from international allies and Arab states, Trump insists on his proposal, saying earlier that "Israel will hand over the Gaza Strip to the United States after the fighting ends."
On Europe, Scholz said the EU could "act within an hour" if Trump imposed tariffs on European goods.
Scholz said in the televised debate that his strategy for dealing with the new U.S. presidency led by Trump included "clear words and friendly conversations." "We must not deceive ourselves. What the American president says is what he means."
Meretz, whose conservative Christian alliance leads the latest polls by about 30 percent, called for a common European strategy, saying the EU must respond to Trump on an equal footing.
The European Commission has warned Trump that "the EU will respond strongly to any trading partner that imposes unfair or arbitrary tariffs on the bloc's goods."
"Our trade and investment relationship with the United States is the largest in the world. There's a lot at stake."
Trump announced on Friday that he plans to announce tariffs on many countries next week, in a major escalation of his trade war.
Trump did not specify which countries the tariffs would be imposed on, but noted that this would be a wide-ranging effort that could also help solve U.S. budget problems.