Jewish groups have welcomed a ruling by an Argentine judge to extradite to Italy a former Nazi who has admitted his role in a 1944 massacre of 335 people.
Erich Priebke, 81, a former German SS officer, is wanted for his participation in the slaughter at the Ardeatine caves, Italy’s worst World War II mass killing.
Priebke and others executed 335 men and boys, 75 of them Jews, at the caves, in reprisal for the slaying of 33 members of a German army unit.
Priebke has lived in Argentina for the past 47 years and has been under house arrest the past 12 months. The arrest came after he admitted his guilt during a May 1994 interview with ABC-TV.
In the ruling, federal judge Leonidas Moldes rejected the argument the Priebke had been following orders from his superiors, saying that an Italian judge would have to consider that defense.
Priebke is also suspected of having participated in the torture of political prisoners as well as the deportation of thousands of Jews to Auschwitz.
Priebke’s lawyer said he would appeal last week’s decision.
Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that during a recent visit to Argentina, his group had asked Argentina President Carlos Menem to expedite the case.
“This action has special meaning as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis,” Foxman said, reacting to the judge’s decision. “It is loud and clear message to those still living who bear responsibility for Nazi atrocities that they, too, can be brought to justice.”
The head of B’nai B’rith International echoed Foxman’s remarks.
“Bringing this war criminal to trial will demonstrate that there is no status of limitations for crimes of this magnitude,” said Tommy Baer, B’nai B’rith president, who had also pressed the case with Argentine officials. “His conviction will be a lesson for war criminals past, present and future.”
Elan Steinberg, executive director of the World Jewish Congress, welcomed the ruling, but cautioned that “it may be a year or more before the extradition.”
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