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Last update - 15:45 16/06/2008 Germany mulls probe of Jewish group overseeing Holocaust restitution By Ofer Aderet Tags: Holocaust, Claims Conference  Germany's comptroller of accounts, an independent federal office which examines the financial workings of the German government, is considering a probe of the policies and actions of the Claims Conference, the Jewish umbrella organization set up for the return of property stolen during Nazi-era Germany and compensation of Holocaust survivors. The Knesset State Control Committee was to discuss the Claims Conference on Monday, amid a storm of criticism of the organization. The session of the Knesset investigative panel is being held prior to publication of the report of Israel's state inquiry into aid for Holocaust survivors. The Knesset discussion follows the release two months ago of the documentary "The Morality of Payments - The War Continues," broadcast on Channel Two and on the YES cable network, which presented the Claims Conference as a corrupt, rotten and thieving organization. The barrage of criticism has led of late to talk of the organization's demise. Advertisement At the beginning of the month, the German weekly newspaper Der Spiegel published an expose on the policies of the organization. The article ended with the following statement: "The Claims Conference appears to be a business firm holding property worth millions of dollars, and not like an organization that is devoted to protecting the rights of others." Criticism is also mounting against the organization on the part of authorities in Israel. At the beginning of June, a court joined the fray, adding weight to news reports over irregularities in the actions of the Claims Conference. The court voiced strong criticism of the Claims Conference and required it to pay NIS 14 million to some 1,300 immigrants from the former Soviet Union, whose rights to a grant from Germany were denied them because of the policies of the Claims Conference. According to the Claims Conference, as a result of its work until now, more than half a million Holocaust survivors in the world have received approximately $60 billion. In addition, more than 600 million euros have been returned to owners whose property was stolen during the Holocaust. Claims Conference figures show that in 2007 the organization gave $387 million to Holocaust survivors and their heirs, $157 million dollars to various programs, including social welfare services for survivors, and $193 million to inheritors to heirs of property from eastern Germany. Nonetheless, the Claims Conference did not detail the sums that it distributes every year to a long list of institutions, NGO's and other organizations which are not connected to Holocaust survivors or to Holocaust research. They also failed to make reference to the value of the assets under its aegis which were never returned to its owners, nor to the exact sum of liquid assets in their bank accounts. Estimates have placed the value of these assets at more than a billion dollars. Related articles: U.S. pastor apologizes to Jews for 'God sent Hitler' comments T.A. court orders NIS 13m payout to 'misled' survivors Germany: Our responsibility for Holocaust commits us to Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us   Justice for Jews London summit focuses on plight of Jewish refugees from Arab states. No place like home Poll: 77% of Israeli Arabs would rather live in Israel than in any other country.   1.   Stolen goods 15:26  |  ottomatik 16/06/08   2.   Long overdue. C.C. recieves billions but distributes millions... 15:39  |  bat yam 16/06/08   3.   Finkelstein proven correct 18:51  |  W 16/06/08   4.   Restoration groups are not accountable 20:45  |  Jeffrey Levine 16/06/08   5.   CLAIMS CONFERENCE HAD 21:28  |  Robert 16/06/08   6.   Holocaust Industry 22:49  |  Historian 16/06/08   7.   Switzerland is the key 23:04  |  anonym 16/06/08   8.   How embarassing! 23:11  |  Josh 16/06/08   9.   Money, money, money 00:13  |  historian 17/06/08   10.   Tinme for a total independent investigation into ALL Claims 00:45  |  Yoshy 17/06/08   11.   Holocaust Restitution 01:24  |  Lani Rosen 17/06/08   12.   OVERSIGHT is always good! ! Also check where aid to Arabs 02:43  |  PETER SM 17/06/08   13.   " W" How did you arrive at that? Which part of the article 04:13  |  PETER SM 17/06/08   14.   Survivors-Restitution-Germany 23:05  |  cminuskin 17/06/08   15.   There`s No Business Like Shoah Business!!! 04:20  |  World Citizen 24/06/08   16.   finkelstein was right 05:05  |  shamir 24/06/08

Read & React Shmuel Rosner: Why do U.S. non-Jews back Israel? Responses: 283 IDF: Israel may declare two soldiers captured by Hezbollah 'killed in action' Responses: 95 Amir Oren: Israel may conclude that it's time to hit Iran by autumn Responses: 149 Sarkozy: There won't be Middle East peace without Syria talks Responses: 62 Haaretz.com TV: East J'lem Arabs pay taxes, lack running water Responses: 41 Rosner's Domain New Guest: Israel should've continued blockade of Gaza The meaning of anti-Americanism in the Arab world (WTR) Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel? Poll: exchange deal with Hezbollah, good or bad? Will we see a record number of Jewish lawmakers? (2) More Headlines 07:15 IDF: Israel may declare two soldiers captured by Hezbollah killed in action 07:29 High Court rejects Shalit family bid to keep Gaza crossings shut 07:25 IDF forces kill two Palestinian militants in the West Bank 07:30 Israel keeps tabs on French nuclear deals with Arab world 04:16 Jewish Agency launches plan to attract Western hi-tech engineers 05:39 Labor Party to support disbanding the Knesset 04:15 Families of abducted soldiers tell Olmert, Barak: We've waited enough 06:39 Beijing 2008 / Israel sending 38 athletes to Olympics 05:20 Israelis never excelled as mercenaries 02:44 U.S. weighs opening interest section in Tehran 01:13 McCain disavows aide comment that terror attack would help GOP Previous Editions Select Day 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun

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