International News
See other International News Articles
Title: 59 U.S. Senators Appeal to Polish Prime Minister Over Holocaust Restitution Bill
Source:
Haaretz
URL Source: https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/59- ... ust-restitution-bill-1.5955592
Published: Mar 27, 2018
Author: Associated Press
Post Date: 2018-03-29 04:04:19 by A Pole
Keywords: Holocaust, Poland, Senate
Views: 179
Comments: 1
More than half of the Senate's lawmakers express concern about bill under discussion that would require that claimants be Polish citizens and limit compensation to spouses, children or grandchildren Fifty-nine U.S. senators have called on the Polish prime minister to support legislation that would allow Holocaust victims and their heirs to receive compensation for property that was seized by the Germans during World War II and later nationalized by the Communists. In a letter signed by more than half of the Senate and released Monday, the lawmakers expressed concern about a restitution bill under discussion in Poland that, in its current form, would require that claimants be Polish citizens and limit compensation to spouses, children or grandchildren. "This draft legislation would adversely affect Holocaust victims and their heirs and is therefore of urgent importance to many of our constituents, millions of Americans, and Holocaust survivors around the world," the senators wrote in the letter to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. The letter was authored by Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, and Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida. The restitution of prewar property has proven to be a difficult challenge for Poland, which suffered massive destruction during the war and changes of its borders in the postwar settlement, followed by the nationalization of property by the Communist regime. Those dispossessed included a swath of prewar Polish citizenry, among them many of the Jews who perished in the Holocaust or who fled Poland after the war. Since the fall of communism, multiple efforts to pass a law that would offer restitution or partial compensation to prewar owners have all failed, with lawmakers balking at the high cost. Without a systematic law, there have been individual efforts, some of them successful, to regain properties. But the process has been marred by irregularities and fraud, with rightful heirs sometimes cheated out of their rights and tenants evicted by new owners. With ownership of some properties unclear, especially in Warsaw, some buildings are falling into dilapidation while some plots cannot be developed. The Polish draft legislation attempts to finally settle the matter. The World Jewish Restitution Organization said it welcomed the call by the senators. Its chair of operations, Gideon Taylor, said: "With fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors alive today, we call on Poland urgently to address this historic wrong." [many of them live in poverty] ======= Warsaw in 1944 - capital of Poland destroyed by the Germans. Warsaw Jews made about 30% percent of population there. ======= Senate's letter: The Honorable Mateusz Morawiecki Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Dear Mr. Prime Minister, First, we offer our congratulations to you on your appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland and to the Polish people on the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining its independence. The United States and Poland have a long and deep relationship stemming from the American Revolutionary War and continuing through our NATO partnership today. It is in this spirit—coupled with the recognition of the tremendous contributions made by Polish-Americans—that we are writing to express concern about legislation regarding Holocaust Era property restitution that has been proposed by the Polish Ministry of Justice. This draft legislation would adversely affect Holocaust victims and their heirs and is therefore of urgent importance to many of our constituents, millions of Americans, and Holocaust survivors around the world. Poland suffered greatly during the Second World War and its aftermath. According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, it is estimated that the Nazis killed at least 1.9 million non-Jewish Polish civilians during the Second World War and at least three million Polish Jews—approximately half of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. This proud, culturally-rich, and long-standing community was utterly decimated by the murderous Nazi regime. Sadly, Jewish victims of Nazi crimes, including many American citizens, have found it difficult to secure compensation for, or the return of, property that was seized by the Nazis and subsequently nationalized by the Communists. Members of the U.S. Senate on both sides of the aisle stand united in seeking justice for victims of the Holocaust and their descendants. In 2009, Poland, along with the United States, Israel, and 45 other countries, affirmed the Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets and Related Issues. Among other guidelines, the Declaration urges participating states to pass national legislation that facilitates restitution “in a fair, comprehensive and nondiscriminatory manner.” We have been disappointed that Poland remains the only major European country that has not passed a national, comprehensive law for the restitution of, or compensation for, private property, but remain hopeful this will soon happen. The draft legislation, published on October 20, would eliminate the possibility of the return of actual property, provide only limited compensation, prevent compensation for ownership of companies that were destroyed, and bar claims by foreign citizens who did not benefit from eligible postwar treaties, including the one between Poland and the United States. We believe that the draft falls short of the standards set forth in the Terezin Declaration and—if passed without amendment—would be a failure of justice. We are deeply concerned that the bill, in its current form, would discriminate against virtually all American survivors and heirs on the basis that they are not currently citizens of Poland and that they were not residents of Poland when their property was nationalized. The current draft law would also exclude individuals who are not "first-line heirs" of Nazi victims or survivors. This provision would disproportionately impact Jewish victims and their families. As a result of the Nazi attempt to exterminate world Jewry, most European Jewish families were completely destroyed, including 90% of Poland’s Jewish community. Therefore, the remaining Jewish heirs are often non-linear — such as nieces, nephews, and cousins. The one-year window for filing claims will be particularly difficult for foreign claimants as the draft legislation does not yet provide for a simple application process or easy access to archives. As strong supporters of the critical and mutually beneficial U.S.-Polish relationship, we believe our alliance is rooted in our shared democratic ideals, including a respect for the rule of law and its ability to ensure justice for victims. We urge you to work with the Polish Parliament to pass fair and just restitution legislation that would both fully realize the goals of the Terezin Declaration and further strengthen the bond between our countries. 
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: A Pole (#0)
Somebody please explain to me HOW this is the business of the US Senate? It is NOT their business because Jews are trying to bribe them to do this. That is only justification for their arrest,prosecution,and sentencing. In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
Fifty-nine U.S. senators have called on the Polish prime minister to support legislation that would allow Holocaust victims and their heirs to receive compensation for property that was seized by the Germans during World War II and later nationalized by the Communists.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]