“It took Austria a long time to be honest about its past.’
‘’You live in a dangerous neighborhood and your neighbors are not like ours – Liechtenstein or Switzerland. And so we understand the difference. But we understand that your situation is a different one and therefore we will try to raise awareness in Europe for the special situation and the special security needs of Israel.’’
JERUSALEM—In a history-making address to the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum 2018 on Monday in Jerusalem, visiting Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz acknowledged Austria’s responsibility to both the Jewish people and, for the first time, the State of Israel.
Kurz, who is on a 3-day visit to Israel, said that it took his country “too long to be honest” about its role in the Holocaust.
“To remember means also to admit the truth. At that time, many Austrians supported the system which killed over six million Jews from all over Europe and beyond. Among them, 60,000 fellow Austrian Jewish citizens in Austria alone,” Kurz said in his address.
“It took Austria a long time to be honest about its past. We’ve realized that Austria was not only a victim, but also a perpetrator,” the Austrian Chancellor said.
“Nevertheless, Austria has looked away far too long and has fulfilled its historical responsibility too late.”
But Kurz said that given this history, Austrians today “have a great responsibility” to make sure the Holocaust never happens again.
After his speech, AJC CEO David Harris took to the podium to thank the Chancellor for his statement, noting that “this is the first time since 1945 in which an Austrian chancellor says clear: We have a historical responsibility to the State of Israel and its security.”
Kurz began his visit Sunday at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Institute, where he laid a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance with Victor Klein, a Holocaust survivor who was in the Mauthausen Concentration Camp that was located in Austria.
“As the chancellor of Austria, I have to state that Austria and the Austrian people carry a heavy burden for their horrific and shameful crimes committed during the Shoah,” Kurz said. “But let me assure you that we Austrians know that we are responsible for our 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 horrible crimes.”
The 31-year-old Chancellor said that his government has recently decided to establish a memorial site in Vienna where “all Jewish victims of the Shoah from Austria will be remembered by name.”
Following the visit to Yad Vashem, Kurz went to the Herzl Museum, placed a wreath at the grave of Shimon Peres, met with Austrian Holocaust survivors and visited the Hand-in-Hand bilingual school for Jewish and Arab children in Jerusalem.
He also made a gesture which is unusual for European leaders : he visited the Western Wall as part of a ‘’private visit’’ that took him to the Austrian Hospice on the Via Dolorosa – a guest house established by the Austrian Catholic Church in 1854 – and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Israeli diplomatic officials characterized the visit to the Western Wall as “important,” even if it is not a formal one. They noted that while US officials – beginning last year with US President Donald Trump – now visit the site, it is not on the itinerary for European leaders.
On Monday, Kurz met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
” You are a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people. I think you demonstrated that today when you went to the Kotel, to the Western Wall, and I hope that other European leaders will follow your important example,’’ Netanyahu said.
Kurz told the Israeli premier : ‘’I can assure you that Austria will fight all forms of anti-Semitism in Europe with determination. Be it the still existing one or also new imported anti-Semitism.’’
The Austrian leader vowed that his country would support Israel security needs in a ‘’tough neighborhood.’’
“ We want to support the State of Israel and also your security needs,’’ he said as his country is to take over in July the rotating six-month EU presidency.
He added : ‘’You live in a dangerous neighborhood and your neighbors are not like ours – Liechtenstein or Switzerland. And so we understand the difference. But we understand that your situation is a different one and therefore we will try to raise awareness in Europe for the special situation and the special security needs of Israel.’’
Israeli Prime Minister replied : ‘’You said that during Austria’s presidency, you will raise these concerns, as well as anti-Semitism. I must say, this is a breath of fresh air and this is leadership. I’ve instructed the Director General of the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Yuval Rotem, to intensify the contacts with the Foreign Ministry of Austria so that we may bring these goals that you have outlined into fruition during your presidency.’’
Kurz became Chancellor last December after his Conservative Austrian People’s Party won the general elections. He formed a coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party of Karl-Heinze Strache, which was founded by former Nazis in the 1950s. The Austrian Jewish community and Israel have refused to engage with the party. Strache is Foreign Minister in Kurz’s government.