November 25, 2005
Ariel Muzicant, the leader of Austria's Jewish community has urged caution following a ruling by a New York court which may finally clear the way for compensation payments to Holocaust survivors whose property was confiscated by the Nazis. Muzicant told Austrian state radio that Austria's Jews: "We are urging caution to avoid raising false hopes." On Wednesday, a US federal appeals court threw out a class-action lawsuit by Austrian Jewish victims of the Nazi regime. By its 2-to-1 decision, the court ended the final case holding up implementation of an agreement that established a fund to compensate Austrian Jews whose property was confiscated during the Nazi era and World War II. Distributions from the Austrian compensation fund, which included US$ 150 million to cover certain property claims, were contingent on dismissal of the case. The judgment "does not mean the rejection of all complaints," Muzicant said. He said Austria's Jews were waiting to see if the government would begin payments or hold off until other legal questions were resolved.
