Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., May 01, 2008 Nisan 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:04 (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

IDF chief pays tribute to ghetto fighters in Warsaw By Yuval Azoulay Tags: Holocaust, Gabi Ashkenazi  WARSAW - Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi began his first visit to Poland yesterday among the 150,000 gray concrete graves in the Jewish cemetery on Okopowa Street in the capital. Over the years, this final resting place for the dead has become the symbol of the life story of the Jews of Warsaw, who have been buried at the Okopowa Street cemetery since the beginning of the 18th century. Amid neglected gravestones overwhelmed by grass and plane trees, Ashkenazi stood for several moments in front of three mass graves marked by stone pillars. This was where the Nazis put the tens of thousands of Warsaw Ghetto Jews who died of hunger and disease. "The answer to what we see here is us, the State of Israel, the IDF and victory," Ashkenazi said as he left the cemetery. Advertisement The chief of staff also met yesterday with Jewish community leaders in Warsaw, visited the Nozyk synagogue and placed a wreath on the memorial to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising on Mila Street. Ashkenazi stood for several minutes at the memorial site, which was erected where the house at 18 Mila Street once stood, from which Mordechai Anielewicz and the people under his command led the five-week ghetto uprising. "In this place Mordechai Anielewicz did not just hide from the Nazis, but also fought," Ashkenazi said. "It is fitting that the IDF soldiers learn the story of this uprising, and that's why we came to admire and salute the heroes who - despite the reality and the balance of power, and the fact that they were untrained civilians - got up and took action and fought. That is what we call 'principles' today." But the Warsaw Ghetto fighters knew they were fighting a lost cause against the well-oiled Nazi war machine. "They knew they had no chance of winning, and they fought nevertheless," said Ashkenazi. "That is bravery." Ashkenazi was accompanied by Israeli bodyguards, and Polish police officers escorted his delegation to the various sites on their itinerary. In addition, several roads in Warsaw were closed for the security of the Israeli visitors. A top official in Ashkenazi's delegation said the extensive security steps were taken due to fear of a Hezbollah attack intended to avenge the February assassination of its chief of operations, Imad Mughniyah, in Damascus. Ashkenazi is slated to lead 10,000 people on the March of the Living at the Auschwitz death camp tomorrow, the first time an Israeli commander has led the international educational program for Jewish teens. Education Minister Yuli Tamir and Chelsea Football Club manager Avram Grant will also participate in the event. This trip is Ashkenazi's first visit to Holocaust memorial sites in Poland and marks the third time an IDF chief of staff is visiting those sites. Two of Ashkenazi's predecessors, Shaul Mofaz and Moshe Ya'alon, also made the trip while they headed the armed forces. Ashkenazi attended a formal reception at Poland's Defense Ministry, where the chief of staff later met with his Polish counterpart and the Polish defense minister. Ashkenazi's delegation includes the IDF's chief rabbi, Brig. Gen. Avichai Ronsky; Brig. Gen. Eli Shermeister, who heads the IDF's education corps; and IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Avi Benayahu. Sgt. Maj. Tal Shabbat, who was critically wounded in an operation in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun in November 2006, and Corp. Ro'i Granitza, who was critically wounded when a rocket hit his tank in the Second Lebanon War, are also taking part in the visit to Poland. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Clear, present danger Survey : 52% of youth believe Israel faces existential threat. Feeling guilty Europe's criticism of Israel is more than just anti-Semitism.   1.   Tribute where tribute is due 04:20  |  Laura A. Peterson 30/04/08   2.   I Encourage Others To Also Make This Trip To Auschwitz, If ... 07:17  |  Lavi 30/04/08

Read & React Syrian emissary: We won't cut Iran ties for peace with Israel Responses: 194 Islamic Jihad: Willing to accept truce only if Gaza siege lifted Responses: 126 Y. Sheleg: Holocaust shows Europe must not be silent in face of fundamentalist Islam Responses: 151 U.S. Jewish leaders call for boycott of Beijing Olympics Responses: 74 Uzi Benziman: Israel mustn't jump to blame enemy for tragedies like Gaza deaths Responses: 52 More Headlines 00:58 Olmert: The voices of Holocaust deniers are being heard 00:23 Understanding the Holocaust 00:38 Bahrain's only Jewish lawmaker rumored to be the country's next ambassador to the U.S. 23:02 Survey: 52% of Israeli teens say Israel faces existential threat 21:43 Islamic Jihad: Cease-fire agreement conditioned on lifting of Gaza siege 01:31 Avram Grant takes Chelsea to Champions' League final 01:29 Libya stands by comparison of Nazi concentration camps, Gaza 22:47 During surprise talks in Amman, Abdullah tells PM peace deal must be reached by year's end 22:41 Palestinians: Militant killed, 3 others hurt in IAF strike on Gaza 20:12 As Qassams pound Negev, Sderot residents urge boycott of Independence Day 21:41 Gilad Shalit`s father: Gaza truce must include my son`s release 18:41 B'Tselem: IDF probe into death of Gazan family not enough Previous Editions Select Day 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr 25 apr 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/programs/summer/summer_sessions/summer_s.php FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer The interest rates haven't changed But your profits will! Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today 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

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