Yad Vashem Chief: Let Refugees Stay
Yad Vashem’s chairman, Avner Shalev, reportedly called on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to let refugees from Darfur remain in Israel. Shalev wrote to Olmert on Sunday, stating that “as members of the Jewish people, for whom the memory of the Holocaust burns, we cannot stand by as the refugees from the genocide in Darfur hammer on our doors,” Ha’aretz reported.
There are fewer than 100 refugees in Israel who fled Darfur, whereas hundreds of thousands of people have been killed by government-sponsored militias. Most of the refugees in Israel are being held in prisons or in army bases, because Sudan is considered an enemy country. Shalev, however, said that security reasons cannot be used as an excuse, noting that such countries as Australia, Canada and Britain cited security concerns when they sent Jewish refugees to detention camps during the Holocaust.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
