Austrian chancellor visits Israel and signs agreement with Yad Vashem
Sebastian Kurz begins visit to Jewish state by signing agreement to give the Shoah memorial museum access to Austrian State Archives and the Mauthausen Memorial
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz began a state visit to Israel.
Kurz on Sunday visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, where he laid a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance.
Kurz and Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev signed an Agreement of Principle in, ensuring document exchange and access between Yad Vashem and the Austrian State Archives and Mauthausen Memorial.
“As Chancellor of Austria, I have to state that Austria and Austrians carry a heavy burden for the shameful crimes committed during the Shoah. But let me assure you that we Austrians know that we are responsible for our own history. It is our duty and obligation to ensure that the Shoah will never happen again and that my generation and succeeding generations will never forget these horrific crimes,” Kurz said following the signing, according to Yad Vashem.
Kurz also announced that the Republic of Austria will contribute to the establishment of the new Shoah Heritage Collections Centre at Yad Vashem, providing additional storage and preservation labs for Holocaust-era artifacts, artwork and documentation in the Yad Vashem Collections.
Kurz had been scheduled to make a private visit to the Western Wall on Sunday.
This is Kurz first visit to Israel as chancellor. He previously visited Israel twice as foreign minister.
Kurz will address the American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum on Monday.
The far-right Freedom Party, which was established by former Nazis in the 1940s and has anti-Semitic roots, is the junior partner in Kurz’s governing coalition. Israel officially boycotts the Freedom Party.
Chancellor of Austria @sebastiankurz and #YVchairShalev sign an Agreement of Principle ensuring that Yad Vashem will be granted access to the Austrian State Archives and the Mauthausen Memorial, and the ability to copy documents relating to the Holocaust. pic.twitter.com/kbUT7cBmKA
— Yad Vashem (@yadvashem) June 10, 2018
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
