Mai 2010 als pdf herunterladen - Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien

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April 29: To Israel, come to Austria!
By JPOST READERS - 28/04/2010 23:56
To Israel, come to Austria!
Sir, – Your editorial “From Hungary and Austria, come to Israel!” (April 28) has un-made my day. That’s not because
of criticism toward my country, as I am always open to founded criticism, but because of the factual errors and mistakes,
as well as outdated comments and distorted conclusions expressed in the article. It’s just too simple to apply
incorrect stereotypes to Austria as a whole.
While your readers can easily check the correct results of last Sunday’s presidential election in Austria on our
embassy’s Web site (http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/embassy/tel-aviv.html) – in fact, President Heinz Fischer was ree -
lec ted by 78.49 percent, while overseas ballots are still to be counted – some of the assumptions related to Austria
in the editorial are clearly to be contested.
Yes, it is true that for too many years following World War II, too many Austrians have tried to blot out the past and the
realities during the Nazi regime, and that it was also an uneasy restart of political life at the birth of Austria’s Second
Republic. But the republic grew strong, and since the speech of Chancellor Franz Vranitzky in 1991 before the Austri an
Parliament in Vienna and in 1993 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Austrian government has clearly demonstrated
its determination to address the country’s darkest years and its readiness to engage proactively in order to work
for the future.
Remembrance of and reflection on the Shoah, as well as restitution efforts, are today very much present in Austrian
official and individual minds. Austria has, for instance, recently been lauded internationally for its successful presidency
of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research in 2008-09. The
government of Israel and Israeli institutions, such as Yad Vashem and Lohamei Hagetaot, are very much aware of this.
Austria’s consequent and maintained position against denial and forgetting is also reflected in one of the most stringent
laws against Nazi and neo-Nazi ideologies and activities (Prohibition Act). The public discussions that took
place during this presidential election campaign have very much focused on this fact.
Today’s Austrian Jewish community’s size is painfully small, compared to what it was at the turn of the 20th century.
But it is growing, flourishing and very much alive.
So Israelis, check out the “Tel Aviv beach” at the heart of Vienna this summer, celebrate with us in style the 150th
birthday of Theodor Herzl, or come to the European Maccabi Games Vienna 2011, and get your own picture – Austria
is waiting for you!
MICHAEL RENDI
Ambassador of Austria to Israel, Tel Aviv
To the Editor of Jerusalem Post concerning the Article of 27th of April 2010
„From Hungary and Austria – Come to Israel!“
Jews in Austria have no reasons to leave!
It is very sad that from time to time Israeli journalists write articles about Austria and the situation of its Jews without
proper knowledge of the situation. It is a fact, that anti-Semitism in Europe is rising from the left and from the far
right and that there are plenty of incidents in almost every country in Europe. The highest increase of anti-Semitism
is seen in Spain and Sweden (see reports of ADL and American Jewish Congress).
In Austria we have the toughest laws against Neo-Nazism and Holocaust-denial. Dozens of Neonazis have been sent to
jail for five to ten years. Anti-Semitism from the right is decreasing! In the last 20 years, the Austrian Authorities have
spent tens of millions of Euros to help build a Jewish infrastructure. In 2009 the president and the chancellor opened
the largest Jewish Campus of Europe in Vienna (school, nursery home and Hakoah Sport Club). The Austrian Govern -
ment just decided to spend 20 million Euros to refurbish Austria’s Jewish cemeteries. In Vienna you can attend up
to 300 Jewish cultural events every year. Vienna’s 15000 Jews have no reason at this point to consider leaving Austria.
The Jewish Community is negotiating a program with the Austrian Government to invite Jews from other European
countries to move to Austria.
Concerning the election of the Austrian President, Dr. Heinz Fischer, he was elected with more than 80 percent. His wife
is of Jewish descent. The conservative parties decided not to run a candidate because Dr. Heinz Fischer’s success was
evident. The only candidate, Ms. Rosenkranz, a declared extreme right-wing “Kellernazi”, was attacked by almost eve ry -
one in Austria and got far less votes than her own party (FPÖ). This party has a large number of right-wing functio na -
ries but its voters mostly vote out of protest against the economic crises, unemployment and fear of globalization.
To tally different to Jobbik in Hungary, in Austria there are no anti-Semitic slogans and no anti-Semitic propaganda.
Attacks on Jews are almost non existent ( and cannot be compared to Hungary, France or Sweden). FPÖ-leader Stra che
tries very hard to disassociate himself from Nazism (although nobody believes him). He has absolutely no chance to
become the next Mayor of Vienna (right now he expects 15-25 % of the votes) and in Vienna no other party will make a
coalition with him.
It is true that Austria has taken very long to live up to its past. Only in 1991 chancellor Vranitzky in his speech before
Austrian Parliament and Hebrew University declared Austria’s responsibility for the Nazi-era. Since then many steps
have been taken (i.a. 2,4 billions of Euros have been paid to Nazi-victims). None of this is enough and none of this
sufficient in relationship to the crimes committed against Austrian Jews. But articles such as yours make only harm,
especially since Austrian Jewry has always taken strong positions against any kind of rightwing politics.
Dr. Ariel Muzicant,
President of the Jewish Communities of Austria
4 mai 2010 - ijar/Siwan 5770