Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., June 18, 2008 Sivan 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:49 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

A group of Holocaust survivors and relatives of survivors visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem on Thursday. (AP) Last update - 05:17 10/11/2007 Dutch Jews: Germany unjustly not paying Dutch Holocaust survivors By Cnaan Liphshiz, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Netherlands, Holocaust  Germany is unjustly withholding money from Dutch Holocaust survivors, an umbrella group for Dutch Jews told Haaretz. On Thursday, on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the group's leaders presented Germany with a petition protesting "injustice to 2,000 Dutch survivors." The bone of contention is a one-time grant the Dutch survivors received in the 1960s. Because of this grant, most of the survivors from the Netherlands are ineligible for compensation under a new arrangement agreed upon last year. Advertisement "We found that because of this one-time grant of some 1,400 euros on average, we're not entitled to a monthly payment of 270 euros which is guaranteed in Article 2 of the Claims Conference," said the initiative's leader, Avraham de Vries. Along with the de Vries group in Tel Aviv, a group of Jewish survivors in the Netherlands gave the German embassy in the Hague a copy of the petition, which is addressed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Article 2 of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany - a body representing world Jewry in compensation talks - was regarded as an achievement when it was signed in 2006. It awarded needy survivors a lifelong monthly stipend. But anyone who had received a grant from Germany was ineligible. De Vries' organization, Platform Israel, found that Germany had approved 949 of 2,954 Jewish applicants for payment under Article 2. Five hundred denied applicants live in Israel. The remaining 1,500 are in Holland. "If Germany wishes to engage in petty bookkeeping, then by all means, let them deduct our one-time grants from what we are owed in monthly payments," says Dr. Eldad Kisch, de Vries' partner in the struggle. Kisch says the Dutch Jews would never have taken the money had they known it would become grounds for refusing them payment in old age. "They gave us milk money and we were stupid enough to take it." De Vries says that at the time the Netherlands had not yet recovered from World War II. "We were happy to get anything," he says. Kisch recalls that many survivors used the modest income supplement to buy furniture or a car. Marthi Herschler, head of Ajalah, a group that represents Dutch Israelis, recalls the points system that was used to determine the size of the grant. "Wearing a yellow patch got you a certain number of points. A murdered parent got you more points." Each point was worth 15 euros, says veteran compensation campaigner and former Dutchman Avraham Roet. "An orphan who'd lost both his parents in the Holocaust got 200 points, or 3,000 euros, but men who were sterilized for marrying non-Jewish wives received only 750 euros." According to Roet, some survivors who received only one point, or 15 euros, are now refused a monthly stipend of 270 euros. Roet says the Dutch government contacted the German government on the survivors' behalf, without success. The German embassy in Tel Aviv received the cosignatories but would not comment on their timing - the 69th commemoration day for the pogrom the Nazis orchestrated across the Third Reich. "The Embassy is aware of this issue and will transmit the petition to the German authorities for further examination. We have been in touch with the Dutch Embassy on this matter," the German embassy told Haaretz. The cosignatories say they are prepared for a backlash in Europe. "More people are saying that the compensation issue is dragging on for too long," Kisch says. "Some might say the Jews are out to get money again. Let them. This injustice must be corrected." More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Religious pressure Tel Aviv supermarket chain agrees gradual Shabbat closure. Overgenerous diplomacy UN envoy: Israel has given Syria a 'huge gift' for free.   1.   Same Happened to Austrian Jews with E. German real estate 21:12  |  Elly 09/11/07   2.   Yes, they ARE after money... - and it`s disgusting 21:12  |  Michael Steiner 09/11/07   3.   This quote is SO funny! 21:14  |  Hilarious! 09/11/07   4.   Jewish milking 21:22  |  Jenny 09/11/07   5.   acquire "special relationship" 21:22  |  goldman 09/11/07   6.   Germany responsible or the Conference? 21:26  |  Miriam 09/11/07   7.   #4--milking? 22:50  |  Paul Freedman 09/11/07   8.   Michael Steiner, one can always emulate Norman Finkelstein 23:46  |  Jake 09/11/07   9.   Jenny, yes it`s so off-putting, all that "Jewish milking" 23:51  |  Jake 09/11/07   10.   Who are you people 00:51  |  Mike 10/11/07   11.   Mike: Yes, Mike and they have, it was already agreed upon 02:59  |  The mover 10/11/07   12.   Time to force the WJC and others to stop 03:41  |  Carla 10/11/07   13.   Holocaust survivors 03:58  |  Dakkar 10/11/07   14.   Michael Steiner - Your Father Made It And You Are Fortunate 05:01  |  Eli 10/11/07   15.   Israel needs to fulfill its obligation to the Palestinian people 07:38  |  Dutch 10/11/07   16.   Complain to and Claim from the JCC! 10:02  |  Anton 10/11/07   17.   not Germany`s responsibility anymore 11:06  |  Leona 10/11/07   18.   Compensate 11:11  |  Nada 10/11/07   19.   #1, Elly - You beat the wrong donkey 11:13  |  Anton 10/11/07   20.   #4 12:38  |  Teacher 10/11/07   21.   Anton in Bonn 10:17  |  KeepingItRealJew 18/06/08

Read & React Israel okays Gaza truce, will take effect Thursday Responses: 62 M. Arens: Olmert dead wrong for saying next U.S. President won't be as friendly as Bush Responses: 7 Syrian official: Peace with Israel will create harmonious Mideast Responses: 19 Editorial: Law to ban Arab MKs from visiting enemy states is an insulting PR ploy Responses: 2 Uzi Benziman: Despite high price, Hezbollah deal for kidnapped troops is a necessity Responses: 1 Rosner's Domain Guests: Weak relationship between later marriage and intermarriage To Republicans Iran's a threat, to Democrats not so much (WTR) Dovish Jewish lobby endorses seven candidates Poll: Cease fire in Gaza is an achievement for... Obama, McCain aides agree: Israel, U.S. must discuss strike on Iran More Headlines 10:22 Israel okays Gaza truce, will take effect Thursday 08:02 Meshal: Any Israeli violation of deal would not go unanswered 07:23 ANALYSIS / Cease-fire deal means Hamas is in charge 07:57 U.S. pushes for Israel-Lebanon peace talks, deal on Shaba 08:42 Syrian official: Peace with Israel will create harmonious Mideast 08:48 Civil Administration officials indicted in West Bank land steal 07:16 Holocaust survivors from former USSR denied reparations 07:18 ElBaradei: Syria lacks skills, fuel for nuclear facility 07:20 Czech leader pledges to advance EU-Israel relations 05:23 New detection tool pinpoints virus behind cervical cancer 06:16 Katsav could face civil suits over sexual assault charges 23:27 Sex and the Old City / Star of hit TV show Kristin Davis makes first visit to Jerusalem 02:56 Will Olmert and Assad be sitting together at the same table? Previous Editions Select Day 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Istudy Learn Hebrew in 3 months Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved