The $15,205,000 which the German Atlantic Line paid for the SS Shalom, the Israeli luxury liner, did not give possession to the buyer of religious objects or art pieces in the liner, Meir Giron, director-general of Zim Lines, the seller, declared today.
He made the report on his return from West Germany where he concluded arrangements for the sale of the Israeli flagship, which is expected to be delivered to West Germany at the end of November. He called the price a “good” one. The German firm will re-name the liner the Hanseatic.
The issue of art decorations on the liner arose earlier this week when Dan Kara-van, an artist who designed the murals for the Shalom, said he would demand return of his murals. He said he did not want them to decorate a ship which might carry former Nazis as passengers, adding he would be willing to return the fees he was paid for the murals.
Authorities then said that Israel would continue to own the various art works, indicating Israeli authorities would remove the art works and exhibits before the ship was delivered to its new owners. Mr. Giron’s statement today extended that policy to religious works on the Shalom.
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