Wiesenthal Center welcomes crucial historical changes to state department website

August 10, 2007

Center says, "In a world where terrorists and Holocaust deniers even lead nations, Hitler's? "Final Solution? must never be underplayed or forgotten."

The Simon Wiesenthal Center praised the U.S. State Department for immediately acting to make changes to its "Background Note" on Germany to clearly stress the implementation of the Holocaust. The previous entry - a key component of the [US] State Department's website - contained only a general reference to the crime of genocide and the establishment of concentration camps, but omitted the mention of the principal victims of the Holocaust and that the real purpose of the camps was to eliminate Europe's Jews.

"I am pleased that the State Department recognized the deficiencies of its previous background note on Germany and consulted with us to post a new note that accurately reflects the enormity of the crimes committed against the Jewish people during the Holocaust," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Wiesenthal Center. "In a world where terrorists and Holocaust deniers even lead nations, Hitler's 'Final Solution' must never be underplayed or forgotten," he added.

Shortly after the Wiesenthal Center's protest, the State Department consulted with Center officials to clarify the Background Note and was then loaded to its website. The revised note can be seen at: www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3997.htm

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe.

For more information, please contact the Center's Public Relations Department, 310-553-9036.