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Federal government under criticism: Holocaust survivors warn of danger!
Federal government changes stance on Israel as Holocaust survivors raise concerns. Developments emphasize historical responsibility.
Federal government under criticism: Holocaust survivors warn of danger!
The current tensions between Germany and Israel are rekindling the concerns of Holocaust survivors. According to a report by the Jüdische Allgemeine, the federal government has changed its attitude towards the Israeli government. Executive Vice President of the International Auschwitz Committee, Christoph Heubner, said on Sunday in Berlin that many survivors are unsettled and have serious doubts about whether the German government correctly recognizes the existential threat to Israel. Decisions that are perceived as turning away from Israel are seen as threatening by these contemporary witnesses.
What is particularly striking is the recent announcement by the federal government that it will no longer supply military equipment to Israel that is intended for operations in the Gaza Strip. This measure is seen by many survivors as potentially damaging to Israel's continued existence. Heubner even warned that such decisions could strengthen the terrorist organization Hamas. The view of Germany, once characterized by confidence and reliability, is clouding for many of them.
The situation of the survivors
- Ca. 40.800 Überlebende aus Konzentrationslagern und Ghettos, oder die sich versteckt hielten.
- Ca. 43.100 Überlebende, die vor der Ankunft der Nazis aus der damaligen UdSSR flohen.
- Ca. 36.600 Überlebende, die vor Antisemitismus unter der Vichy-Regierung in Frankreich flohen, hauptsächlich aus Marokko und Algerien.
There are around 11,500 Holocaust survivors still living in Germany, while there are 34,600 and 25,500 survivors in the USA and the former Soviet Union states, respectively. Projections from the Jewish Claims Conference show that in six years half of the survivors will no longer be alive, in ten years 70% and in 15 years 90% of survivors will have died.
The history of Zionism and the founding of Israel
The State of Israel was founded in May 1948 and many survivors saw it as a safe home to escape the terrible experiences of the Holocaust. This foundation was the answer to centuries of anti-Semitism that was rampant in Europe. The European Jewish community was exposed to exclusion and persecution for many years. The belief that communal Jewish life was only possible through Israel's own state led to the emergence of Zionism in the 19th century. The Holocaust, in which six million Jews were murdered, reinforced this belief.
The establishment of a Jewish state was not only a historic event, but also a new beginning for many survivors who found a new identity and security in Israel. Despite the current political uncertainties, the deep-rooted connection to Israel remains unchanged for many of them. Israeli President Isaac Herzog will take part in a memorial march in Auschwitz-Birkenau on Thursday, where freed hostages and relatives of victims of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 will also be present. This memorial reminds not only of the past, but also of the challenges of the present time.