The Hungarian Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a government plan that will partially compensate Hungarian Jews for property that was confiscated during World War II.
In a 202-23 vote, the Parliament on Tuesday decided to back an earlier government decision to set up a foundation, whose assets are to be drawn from real estate and valuables confiscated by the fascists during World War II. The foundation also will oversee the disbursement of compensation vouchers worth $27 million.
The foundation will be overseen by a special committee headed by Ronald Lauder, the treasurer of the World Jewish Congress who has been active in Jewish renewal projects across Eastern and Central Europe.
According to the plan, Holocaust survivors, their living relatives and the Jewish community will be compensated.
Gusztav Zoltai, head of the Hungarian Jewish Community, said in an interview that a series of substantive discussions would now take place.
Hungarian officials will meet with Jewish leaders to work out by the end of November additional details of the fund as well as the return of property.
Talks between the government and local and international Jewish groups began more than three years ago.
Hungary had a prewar population of 800,000 Jews. About 600,000 died during the Holocaust.
Today, the Hungarian Jewish community, the largest in Central Europe, numbers between 80,000 and 130,000.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
