Swiss, Jewish Groups End Fight over Makeup of Holocaust Fund

After weeks of wrangling between the Swiss government and Jewish groups, there appears to be agreement on the composition of an executive board that will oversee the distribution of millions of dollars to needy Holocaust survivors.

The Swiss government is set to appoint Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel to serve as the international chairman of the Holocaust Memorial Fund’s executive board, according to sources closely involved with the fund.

But when asked for his reaction to the move, Wiesel said he was unaware of the development, or even that Jewish groups had been pushing for his appointment.

He did not rule out the possibility of accepting the position, but expressed some hesitation.

“My field is writing and teaching,” he said during a telephone interview in New York.

In another development, the Swiss Bankers Association expressed its “unequivocal support” for publicly disclosing the names of the holders of dormant accounts dating back to the Holocaust.

The step, which represents a major departure from Switzerland’s strict adherence to its bank secrecy laws, was welcomed in Washington by Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R-N.Y.), the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and one of Switzerland’s harshest critics.

Describing the step as a “major breakthrough” during a speech Wednesday on the Senate floor, D’Amato said the names of account holders could be made public “within a matter of days or weeks,” adding that there would be “certainly hundreds, maybe more” of accounts disclosed by the Swiss.

Months of mounting pressure regarding the whereabouts of Holocaust-era bank accounts prompted the Swiss to establish the Holocaust Memorial Fund.

Created earlier this year with contributions from Switzerland’s largest banks and industrial firms, the fund is valued at about $190 million.

According to the March 1 bylaws establishing the fund, Switzerland was to name four of the executive board’s members and the World Jewish Restitution Organization would recommend the other three members.

The WJRO, which was created in 1992 by the World Jewish Congress, the Jewish Agency for Israel and other leading Jewish groups, has spearheaded international efforts to determine the whereabouts of assets deposited by Holocaust victims in Swiss banks during the war years and to investigate Switzerland’s wartime dealings with the Nazis.

The Holocaust Memorial Fund was created to make payments to needy Holocaust survivors as soon as possible while the questions regarding the missing assets are worked out — a process that could take years.

The Swiss Federal Council, or Cabinet, announced on April 16 its four appointees to the board.

Among them was Rolf Bloch, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Switzerland, whom the Swiss named to preside over the board.

Bloch, a highly respected member of the Swiss Jewish community, has been moderate in his criticism of the Swiss banks and government.

Wiesel has been more outspoken.

Earlier this month, the WJRO proposed its three nominees, including Wiesel, Israeli elder statesman Yosef Burg and Knesset member Avraham Herschson.

But for several weeks, the Swiss said they were waiting for the WJRO to present its nominees in a formal written request. But WJRO officials maintained that they had already made the written request.

In addition, the Swiss appeared to balk at the WJRO request that Wiesel serve as the executive board’s international chairman, a position the Swiss said was not included in the bylaws setting up the fund.

With Switzerland’s decision to accept Wiesel, the board is now expected to begin its work soon. Despite Wiesel’s title, Bloch will remain head of the executive board.

In February and March, Jewish and Swiss officials stated that distributions from the fund could begin as early as August.

But given the recent wrangling between the two groups, there may be some delay before payments begin.

However, in welcoming Wiesel’s appointment, Bloch said the payments would likely begin this summer.