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Washington - Lawmakers Press Poland, Lithuania, on Holocaust Assets |
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Democratic Representative Robert Wexler and 24 colleagues wrote to prime ministers Donald Tusk of Poland and Andrius Kubilius of Lithuania to push for action on the legislation during a June 26-30 conference on Holocaust-era assets to be held in Prague.
"We believe that the Prague Conference may represent the last and best opportunity to resolve outstanding Holocaust-era issues during the lifetime of Holocaust survivors," wrote Wexler.
He urged the US allies "to publicly recommit to introducing, passing, and implementing equitable and fair property restitution legislation" giving those who lost property to the Nazis or subsequent Communist governments "at least a small measure of justice during their lifetimes."
The Florida lawmaker, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who chairs the panel's Subcommittee on Europe, will be part of the US delegation to the conference.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman, a Democrat, and the panel's top Republican, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen were among the other lawmakers who signed Wexler's letter.
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Read Comments (9) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 25, 2009 at 04:50 AM expert Says:
We will give you back the money after USA will give it back to the Indians. We owe you nothing, scroungers!
2
Jun 25, 2009 at 04:35 AM Me Says:
Thee are shtetlich that were almost 100% Jewish, that are now "occupied" by Polish goyim. (As well as in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, etc. You think they're just going to hand over the towns that their parents and grandparents plundered from Jews?
3
Jun 25, 2009 at 09:36 AM Srulik Says:
"property the Nazis stole during the Holocaust" - "Nazis". Enough with this ridiculous word. It was the Germans and their all too willing accomplices who killed and enslaved Jews and stole their property. Who is living in my father's home on Brovarno Street in Kozienice, Poland? Who is in my mother's home in Lviv? Who is using my family's silverware? I never expect "restitution" - just a semblance of "justice". Let it be known who the criminals were - stop using the ridiculous term "Nazi", and who is living in our homes, using our belongings, looking at our artwork in Poland and throughout Europe today.
4
Jun 25, 2009 at 10:14 AM frater Says:
“ "property the Nazis stole during the Holocaust" - "Nazis". Enough with this ridiculous word. It was the Germans and their all too willing accomplices who killed and enslaved Jews and stole their property. Who is living in my father's home on Brovarno Street in Kozienice, Poland? Who is in my mother's home in Lviv? Who is using my family's silverware? I never expect "restitution" - just a semblance of "justice". Let it be known who the criminals were - stop using the ridiculous term "Nazi", and who is living in our homes, using our belongings, looking at our artwork in Poland and throughout Europe today. ”
The fact that a Pole is living in your father's home does not in itself mean much - unless you can prove that he is guilty of some other wrongdoings. What do you believe Poles should do with those houses? Destroy them? Leave them empty? What did Israelis do with Palestinian houses after Palestinians went away? Some Ukrainian is living in my family home in Kovel, I'm not complaining about that...
5
Jun 25, 2009 at 10:11 AM frater Says:
“ Thee are shtetlich that were almost 100% Jewish, that are now "occupied" by Polish goyim. (As well as in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, etc. You think they're just going to hand over the towns that their parents and grandparents plundered from Jews? ”
I didn't know you can "occupy" your own country.
There is a difference between communal and private property. There was a restitution of communal Jewish property in Poland. Private property is another issue. The heirs (like Srulik) should have a way to get their property back. But the Jewish organizations ask Poland and Lithuania to give them compensations for heirless property, and that is extremely controversial. In a normal country, when a private individual dies (or is murdered) his property is inherited by his heirs or the state. If there are no heirs, the state is not going to give the property to other individuals on the basis of some ethno-religious criteria. In this particular case, Jewish claimants are asking Poland - a state that never cooperated with the Nazis - to give billions of dollars to Jews living in other countries many of whom where never Polish citizens - because their compatriots were murdered by Germans...It's a very long shot.
6
Jun 25, 2009 at 11:02 AM Srulik Says:
“ The fact that a Pole is living in your father's home does not in itself mean much - unless you can prove that he is guilty of some other wrongdoings. What do you believe Poles should do with those houses? Destroy them? Leave them empty? What did Israelis do with Palestinian houses after Palestinians went away? Some Ukrainian is living in my family home in Kovel, I'm not complaining about that... ”
it seems ignorance and justice don't mix. My grandmother,b''h, tried to receive "restitution". Their home was completely looted. The yard was dug up looking for "treasure". The authorities would consider "restitution" if my family was willing to pay an inordinant sum in "back" taxes. My mother, on returning to her home town, was refused entry into her OWN home. The gentile family which had taken over the home were sitting at my mother's kitchen table, using their linens and utensils. Unlike the Palestinians, my parents did return. So, back to my original post. Not complaining or looking for $. Just trying to set the record straight.....Justice, justice, above all justice.
7
Jun 25, 2009 at 11:42 AM frater Says:
“ it seems ignorance and justice don't mix. My grandmother,b''h, tried to receive "restitution". Their home was completely looted. The yard was dug up looking for "treasure". The authorities would consider "restitution" if my family was willing to pay an inordinant sum in "back" taxes. My mother, on returning to her home town, was refused entry into her OWN home. The gentile family which had taken over the home were sitting at my mother's kitchen table, using their linens and utensils. Unlike the Palestinians, my parents did return. So, back to my original post. Not complaining or looking for $. Just trying to set the record straight.....Justice, justice, above all justice. ”
Those who returned should clearly have received their property back and plundering the properties of Jews who were sent to ghettos or camps was disgusting. But I think you should make a difference between Poles and Ukrainians who took advantage and looted the property as soon as the Jews were taken away and those who moved in after a while because they had to move somewhere and because it was clear that the owners would not return. Millions of people were moving during those times. Part of my family was from Ukraine - they lost everything there, and then they came to Western Poland when they occupied places the Germans fled from. Did Ukrainians in your mother's house even know that it belonged to Jews? They could have thought they were occupying a house vacated by "Polish occupiers..."
When did your grandmother tried to get restitution? Was it recent?
8
Jun 25, 2009 at 12:58 PM frater Says:
“ it seems ignorance and justice don't mix. My grandmother,b''h, tried to receive "restitution". Their home was completely looted. The yard was dug up looking for "treasure". The authorities would consider "restitution" if my family was willing to pay an inordinant sum in "back" taxes. My mother, on returning to her home town, was refused entry into her OWN home. The gentile family which had taken over the home were sitting at my mother's kitchen table, using their linens and utensils. Unlike the Palestinians, my parents did return. So, back to my original post. Not complaining or looking for $. Just trying to set the record straight.....Justice, justice, above all justice. ”
"Just trying to set the record straight.....Justice, justice, above all justice"
What do you exactly mean by that?
9
Jul 08, 2009 at 10:14 AM a Says:
I still cannot believe that people blame Poland for what they Germans did. If the Jews in America want restitution they are looking in the wrong places. Who was responsible for the Nazis? If you want to talk restitution then let’s start with restitution for all the Poles murdered (Jews included) and for the destruction to the country. I have never considered people from Poland to be either Jewish or Catholic. It was Polish people who went through the Holocaust, Jewish or not. Jews were the main target of the Nazis but don’t overlook the fact that Catholic Poles were also murdered, among others. I understand why Jews left under those circumstances, under the control of the Nazis Poland was powerless to protect its people, Jewish or not. So why would it make sense for Poland to have to pay money to Jews in America that probably have no connection to Poland in the first place. Not all Jews in America are from Poland. The Germans were responsible for the war so they should be responsible for the lives they took and for the destruction they caused. All this talk about Polish people cooperating with the Nazis is nonsense. If someone is holding a gun to your head you will do what they say. As for the looting, its human nature considering the circumstances. A lot of it I feel is German propaganda to help spread blame and responsibility for what the Nazis did. If you think about it the Nazis would have probably returned to look for the “treasure.” Considering what Poland went through under communist rule, as soon as Poland's economic situation starts to improve people become envious and greedy. And we wonder why people dislike us. It is the actions of the corporate Jews, hiding behind their corporate lawyers, that continue to plague Jews in America. Pay restitution to all who suffered because of the war.