Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 16, 2007 Kislev 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:29 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Easy Start Magazine Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Week's End Books

Pensioner Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan. (Tomer Appelbaum) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 08:24 15/11/2007 Germany says willing to discuss Holocaust survivors' pensions By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent, and Reuters tags: Rafi Eitan, Holocaust  Germany is willing to discuss the possibility of making extra pension payments to Holocaust survivors if that is what the Israeli government wants, a German government spokesman said on Wednesday. Spokesman Thomas Steg was responding to a question about comments made by Pensioner Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan, in Haaretz last week. "If we get to the point where we need further negotiations, we'll see," Steg said. "We wouldn't rule out having talks if the Israeli government wants them. We would not refuse talks." Advertisement This is the first positive signal from the German government since the reports of Eitan's statements over the weekend. German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said Israel had made no formal request to reopen the issue, which is covered by the 1952 Luxembourg Agreement with Germany on reparations for survivors of the Nazi Holocaust in World War Two. A spokeswoman for Eitan was quoted as saying Eitan did not wish to renegotiate the agreement. Rather he wanted Israeli and German officials to discuss ways of finding funds to cover costs not taken into account when the original agreement was signed. Steg said that the massive migration of Jews from the former Soviet Union could not have been predicted in 1952 when the original deals were made. According to government calculations the cost of caring for survivors during the past 50 years cost 4.5 times more than what was originally estimated and paid as part of the 1952 agreement. Germany paid $833 million as part of that agreement. Early last week the government approved a new package of NIS 2 million in aid payments to survivors over the next three years. The package will be funded by the government, but it was also noted that efforts will be made to acquire more contributions from Germany. Despite the ruckus caused in Germany by Eitan's statements, as well as the criticism directed against him in Israel, the Prime Minister's Bureau announced this week that he was acting on behalf of the government and had its full backing. Officially, a statement from Eitan's office read that he would not respond until "an official announcement was received on the matter from the German government." Nonetheless, in spite of the announcement in Berlin, German Foreign Ministry sources criticized Eitan, saying that it was possible to reach the same conclusions through a quiet and orderly request. They pointed to the fact that to date no official request More Jewish World news and features Related articles Minister denies asking Germany for more Holocaust reparations Bookmark to del.icio.us War speculations An aide to Sharon says the ex-PM wouldn't have sent ground troops to Lebanon. Nuclear inspection An IAEA report concludes Iran is generally truthful but still defying UN demands.   1.   Why Germany is so wide open 17:20  |  Jonathan S 14/11/07   2.   This is really putting Jews in a bad light 17:44  |  NYC Jew 14/11/07   3.   Thanks, but no thanks 19:39  |  Nephtaly 14/11/07   4.   Wow 19:45  |  Steve 14/11/07   5.   NYC Jew 19:50  |  Chicago Arab 14/11/07   6.   one condition 20:02  |  Leona 14/11/07   7.   israel 17th bundesstaat 20:24  |  goldman 14/11/07   8.   Whatever Germany does or does not do... 21:34  |  Ari 14/11/07   9.   Utterly absurd. 21:52  |  Jens 14/11/07   10.   #1 Germans afraid #7 german bundestaat 22:34  |  kraut 14/11/07   11.   Direct support 22:52  |  Frank 14/11/07   12.   On greedy Germans and pauper Jews 23:14  |  Jonathan S 14/11/07   13.   A possible explanation 23:16  |  Jonathan S 14/11/07   14.   Jonathan giggling 23:21  |  Angel 14/11/07   15.   What some Germans do not want #11 23:22  |  Jonathan S 14/11/07   16.   krat: what does business with GB or Neatherlands have to do with 23:38  |  Wagner 14/11/07   17.   # 3 nephtaly 23:43  |  Axel 14/11/07   18.   Before Germany discusses anything w/Israel 23:51  |  Camino 14/11/07   19.   Jonathan S - Self hating German 03:12  |  Uri 15/11/07   20.   Uncomfortable... 04:54  |  Nathaniel 15/11/07   21.   #12 What BS Jonathan 05:37  |  ballistic 15/11/07   22.   Germany 08:51  |  Naomi 15/11/07   23.   #4 To Wow 08:56  |  kraut 15/11/07   24.   JonathenS and the noending Antigermanismus 10:07  |  Dav 15/11/07   25.   Jonathan S 01:06  |  Steve 16/11/07   26.   #25 Steve 09:27  |  Dav 16/11/07

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