Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has been condemned by Israeli politicians and rights activists for remarks he made regarding the Holocaust.

Abbas told a meeting in the West Bank that the Nazi mass murder of European Jews was the result of their financial activities and not anti-Semitism.

“Why did this use to happen? They say, ‘It is because we are Jews.’ I will bring you three Jews, with three books who say that enmity towards Jews was not because of their religious identity but because of their social function.

“This is a different issue. So the Jewish question that was widespread throughout Europe was not against their religion but against their social function which relates to usury and banking and such.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the remarks pathetic, while deputy minister for diplomacy felt the comments went against efforts for peace.