Jewish groups are dissatisfied with a proposed new German law that would compensate Jews whose property was stolen by the Nazis in East Germany, but would require them to pay property taxes on the restitution.
The draft law, proposed by the German Cabinet this week, would compensate Jewish and non-Jewish victims of the Nazi and Communist regimes by paying them 1.3 times what their property was worth at the time it was seized.
The bill, drawn up by the Finance Ministry to settle the issue of expropriated real estate and, clear the way for investment in eastern Germany, left Jewish groups unhappy.
“The proposed levy on properties restituted to victims of Nazi persecution is immoral and contravenes the commitments which the German Federal Republic undertook” when the formerly divided Germany was reunified, said Israel Miller, president of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
The World Jewish Congress termed the proposed law “unacceptable,” on the basis of consulations the WJC had with Ignatz Bubis, chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany.
“We hope that, even at this late date, the German government will modify its proposal so as to take into account principles of equity and justice,” said WJC Secretary-General Israel Singer.
Bubis and WJC President Edgar Bronfman plan to meet with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl on May 12 and present a joint position representing Jewish communities in 80 countries, according to the WJC.
In Bonn, Dieter Vogel, a spokesman for the German government, said, “Jewish groups have said they don’t want just 1.3 times the original value but today’s real value.
“That would be impossible to pay,” he said.
“Naturally this law is controversial, but for financial reasons we cannot satisfy all wishes,” said Vogel.
If the draft is accepted by the Bundestag and passed into law, claimants will have two months to decide if they want to try to get their property back or receive compensation. Payments would be made in 1996.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
