NEW YORK – The World Jewish Congress has welcomed a commitment by the main German political parties to compensate Jewish ghetto laborers during the Nazi era. WJC President Ronald S. Lauder also praised the fact that the agreement between the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats in Germany to form a government recognizes Germany’s responsibility for Israel’s right to exist as a “Jewish and democratic state.” However, the WJC president lamented that the document does not make any reference to facilitating the return of Nazi-looted art.
“In view of the public debate that took place over the past four weeks on the Munich art trove, we regret that the three parties did not indicate their willingness to address this important matter,” Lauder declared. He added that “it is high time that the German federal government puts in place a comprehensive framework that allows for the restitution of looted artworks to the rightful owners.”
The text of the coalition agreement states: "We recognize our historic responsibility for the survivors of the Holocaust who experienced unspeakable suffering during the Nazi era. We therefore want to meet the justified demands of Holocaust survivors for an appropriate compensation for ghetto labor.” In March, the German parliament had blocked a measure to resolve the amount German pension funds must pay to former laborers in ghettos.
The 184-page document also reiterates Germany’s “special responsibility for Israel as a Jewish and democratic state” and states that “Israel’s right to exist is not negotiable for us.” In 2015, Germany will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.
