Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., March 15, 2008 Adar2 9, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:55 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Jerusalem and Babylon / No time for a free-for-all By Anshel Pfeffer Many people find the whole business of Holocaust restitution rather distasteful. Sixty-three years after the World War ended they ask, wouldn't it be better to try and turn over a new leaf, instead of resurrecting the image of the money-grubbing Jew? Why should a new generation of Germans and Poles be forced to pay for the sins of their grandparents, unnecessarily strengthening their anti-Semitic and anti-Israel tendencies? As it is, all the money in the world couldn't do justice, and aren't we belittling the memory of the six million by adding a dollar sign to that figure? Besides, in the end, the big money goes not to the survivors, but to the lawyers and accountants who staff the thriving restitution industry. All these claims have merit of course, but there are counter-arguments, equally valid, if not more so. I'll make just one of them. There are still hundreds of thousands of Holocaust survivors alive around the world today, many of them living in near poverty and lacking comprehensive health treatment. Advertisement On the other side, across Europe, there are hundreds of thousands of local citizens who saw their Jewish neighbors persecuted, attacked and deported, often as active participants, and then moved into their empty houses, taking over their possessions, jobs, businesses and farms. Certainly there is no way we can achieve full justice, but at the very least, both these groups deserve whatever little justice we can deliver in the remaining years of their lives. Restitution could raise necessary funds to allow survivors to live what little time they have left in comfort, and while it is logistically impossible to track down every property that was stolen from its Jewish owners, we should at least try and make a few successful examples in every European country, so those who took part in the plunder all those years ago, will feel uneasy. What right do we have to give up the fight while these two groups are still around? But even after accepting the moral justification for a restitution campaign, there are serious obstacles in the way of such a crusade, even before we take the battle to the enemy. The incessant bickering between the various Jewish and Israeli organizations concerned with restitution has reached new heights and is now the main reason that the survivors might never see justice. In steps Rafi Eitan There is nothing new about the arguments over where boundaries lie - which organization is in charge of what kind of stolen property and in which countries? Those arguments have been going on for decades, but they have become much more tempestuous over recent months. Everyone seems to be preparing for the endgame; realizing that the next round could well be the last chance, not just for the survivors, but also for some of the organizations, which will find it very difficult to justify their existence once the survivors are no longer with us. The wild card in the pack is the sudden involvement of the Israeli government, in the shape of Pensioners Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan, who is going after restitution with a vengeance. Mainly for diplomatic reasons, Israeli administrations were not inclined to get involved in this business, but Eitan has not only been given a wide-ranging mandate by the prime minister, he has also been awarded a budget. Eitan's burst of activity in recent months caused a diplomatic storm when he demanded Germany renegotiate the original 1952 Reparations Agreement, and now he is trying to reactivate, or perhaps take over the World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO). These actions have ruffled many feathers, but none more than those of the grandees of the Claims Conference, who blame Eitan for upsetting careful diplomacy painstakingly done over decades. But these are far from being the only arguments going on; the survivors' organizations are blaming just about everyone, governments, conferences and restitution companies, for not getting their priorities right and not devoting enough funds to elderly survivors' welfare. Local Jewish communities are trying to preserve their independence and negotiate with their governments without allowing international bodies any involvement. No wonder restitution has fallen in to such disrepute. For any serious, last-hour restitution campaign to have any serious chance, there can be no more exclusive bailiwicks of different organizations, special mandates and personal grandstanding by great Jewish leaders. Much of what has been said and written recently on the Claims Conference is unjust, and decades of service shouldn't be overlooked, but its often aggressive attitude and frequent overstepping of its mandate have created a climate of mistrust, and it seems to many that the Claims Conference sees its longevity as an organization as an end in itself. But also Rafi Eitan has little claim for control of the restitution process. The government he represents will have to do much more to atone for decades of official Israeli indifference to the issues. A budget of 6.5 million shekels and one minister are not enough. This is not the time either for glamorous freelancers such as World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder, who has been making the rounds of East European governments - without coordination, these efforts can only go awry. Each of the players has resources, both financial and in the form of experienced manpower and exclusive access in the right places. This is the last chance to put differences aside, pool these resources and set up a serious coordinating body with a strategic battle plan and set of priorities, headed by a known Jewish figure, above these disputes. The Israeli government should be more involved, while respecting the position of world Jewish organizations and the local communities, who in turn have to remember that there are many more survivors around the world. Professional organizations, especially the Claims Conference, have to return to their correct proportions, as technical facilitators, not full partners with Israel and the representatives of other communities. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Not even for Natalie A Haredi actor quits Natalie Portman's latest film due to rabbis' protests. Al-Jazeera boycott Al-Jazeera slams Israeli boycott as attack on free expression.

Today Online Bradley Burston: Ten Commandments for Arab and Jew at war Responses: 304 Officials: IAF helicopter hit by Palestinian fire over Gaza Responses: 284 Police arrest rabbi for 'inciting Palestinians' in East Jerusalem Responses: 147 State Dept. notes rise in world anti-Semitism over last decade Responses: 268 Haaretz.com TV: Al Jazeera slams Israeli boycott as attack on freedom of expression Responses: 83 More Headlines 20:41 IAF strike kills three Islamic Jihad militants in northern Gaza 22:54 Report: Syria wants 'public' peace talks with Israel 20:31 Shin Bet: No evidence of far-right plot to avenge J'lem yeshiva massacre 21:39 Israeli Arab leader: Assassination of Arab figure 'matter of time' 00:29 Firebombs hurled into home of Jewish Agency representative in U.S. 01:53 Netanyahu says will sue Ch. 10 for report he overspent on London trip 15:22 Vice Premier: W. Bank outposts harm Israel's relations with U.S. 18:15 Merkel: Threats that Israel faces are also threats to Germany 13:54 Actor quits Natalie Portman film due to rabbis' objections 21:19 Hard-liners take early edge in Iran vote, but reformists show strength 19:13 At least 10 killed, many injured in anti-China protests in Tibet 09:22 Islamic summit draft communique accuses Israel of 'war crimes' 20:06 EU demands Israel halt all construction in W. Bank, E. J'lem Previous Editions Select Day 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar

Special Offers Advertisement FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer READY FOR PURIM? BUT - Who Will Guard The Hamentasch? Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM FREE JEWISH HISTORY COURSE Berel Wein's best selling lectures. 5000 Years in Five hours /CD/MP3 Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel 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 |

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