Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 16, 2007 Kislev 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:23 (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

del.icio.us Digg It!  new Let 'em pay By Tom Segev tags: Holocaust, Germany Nobody can calculate accurately how much the Germans paid for their crimes against the Jews: By any account, they paid neither too much nor enough. Most of the money was paid before the euro was introduced. If 60 million Germans for 60 years paid some 12 billion Deutsche mark - it works out that each one paid on average DM 33 per year, or less than one mark a week, between 25 and 50 cents. In the interim, they became one of the wealthiest countries in the world. They owe their present standing among other things to their wise decision to compensate the Holocaust's survivors. Had they not done so in the early 1950s, they would not have been welcomed so quickly into the family of nations and would also not be so rich today. Advertisement None of this changes the fact that the Germans treated Holocaust survivors more fairly than did the Israel government, especially in recent years. Unfortunately, Israel's attitude toward people in distress is not a worthy example to other countries: not after the Olmert government proposed raising the allowances survivors receive by NIS 83 a month. However, there is no reason to be impressed by the German government's announcement that it is prepared to enter into negotiations with Israel over additional payment. So long as there is one Jew left on earth who still needs money to end his life in dignity, the Germans should pay, because they alone are to blame. There are some people in Germany who are yelling they've paid enough. They are only demeaning themselves. At issue is not reopening closed agreements, but human needs that did not arise previously, and people who lived most of their lives behind the Iron Curtain and received no reparations. The Germans should be satisfied if they don't have to give the survivors from the former Soviet Union everything they hadn't paid them during the communist era. The Germans' willingness to pay more to these survivors too must take into account an important lesson of past agreements: Too many survivors did not get what they deserved, because Israel plucked some of their money for itself. It cannot be allowed to do so again. It was not Israel that was hurt in the Holocaust, but rather several thousand people who now live there. Each has a name, a story, a wound. The money reaches each by direct payment from Germany. It's enough each have a bank account; there is no need for the Bank of Israel. 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.   RE: "Let `Em Pay" by Tom Segev 09:59  |  J. Jewett 15/11/07   2.   Then how much should 10:35  |  Khalil Abo Mohammad 15/11/07   3.   Let`s have some dignity,time to take over. 10:10  |  PETER S.M. 15/11/07   4.   PETER S M 10:42  |  Dav 15/11/07   5.   #1 The bombing of Dresden 11:32  |  Outsider 15/11/07   6.   It is impossible to pay all the depths 11:54  |  Edith 15/11/07   7.   DAV misquoting me & this article .Why? 12:51  |  PETER S.M. 15/11/07   8.   J.Jewett 13:07  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 15/11/07   9.   J. Jewett #1 13:33  |  Axel 15/11/07   10.   This is dangerous 22:38  |  Abo Babo Al-Ladin 15/11/07   11.   HAHA #10 THIS IS A GREAT IDEA, WE PROMISE TO GET To U AS SOON AS 09:09  |  Elizabeth 16/11/07

Today Online Minister Lieberman: PA must recognize Israel as Jewish state Responses: 188 Tom Segev: Germany should pay as long as even one Holocaust survivor still lives Responses: 107 Aluf Benn: U.S. wants Israel to get used to the Iranian bomb Responses: 190 Haaretz.com TV: Hebron settlers taped abusing Palestinians Responses: 97 Aide: Sharon wouldn't have sent ground troops into Lebanon Responses: 82 More Headlines 07:52 Russia to Israel: Syria will take part in Annapolis summit 08:31 U.S. says will push for new Iran sanctions despite UN report 08:02 Report: Jewish poverty rate in the U.S. higher than in Israel 08:03 E-mail snub to Israel by Prince Charles' aides results in furor 07:50 Justice Min. pushes bill to limit High Court power over security 07:50 Chicago man to be deported to Ukraine for helping Nazis in WWII 07:57 Treasury: Teachers' demands would cost state NIS 2.5 billion 05:26 Man cleared of causing suicide of prof who wrote of 'Jewish conspiracy' 08:24 Palestinian billionaire launches movement to rival Fatah, Hamas 02:47 Jerusalem tax, city employees arrested for taking bribes Previous Editions Select Day 15 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov

Special Offers Advertisement HELP SAVE OMRI! Ezer Mizion's Bone Marrow Recruitment Drive Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

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

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved