THE HOLOCAUST IS OVER WE MUST RISE FROM ITS ASHES

proposed, compromised, and stressed the historic aspect again and again. Thequestion was whether a German defense attorney should be allowed to representEichmann.Yosef Burg : In my opinion, considering our public’s sensitivity, a Germanattorney in a public trial will upset the public. No one can be responsible forwhat may be done by someone to such a person.Ben-Gurion : What is this? Anarchy? Shall we be afraid of hooligans?Yosef Burg: Here, in our land, he can consult whomever he wishes, but in thepublic trial: no German, no Swiss, and no Austrian. (Almost begging) Please!The attorney will express his arguments in this language, and if you add on tothis a German national—I do not know if this is desirable.When the pandemonium ended, the trial began and Hausner walked to the stage,pointed his accusing finger at the glass enclosure and said: “Ani Maashim!” (“Iaccuse!”) He then continued his opening prosecution speech for three more days.Holocaust writer Yehiel Dinur, also known as K. Zetnik, fainted. Baruch, my father’sdriver, listened to all the sessions on the kitchen radio, and many people startedrolling up their sleeves, revealing for the first time the numbers tattooed on their arms.The verdict was read, the sentence spelled out: Death sentence to the tzorer, thebitter enemy of the Jews, Adolf Eichmann. All said in unison: May his name andmemory be erased, and we say Amen. The cabinet met again and the minutes speakfor themselves.Ben-Gurion : I talked with Martin Buber; it was a long conversation. I will tellyou in brief what he said. A. He thinks that executing Eichmann will create anew legend of the anti-Jesus type. Maybe not this year and not in two years, butthe legend will be created and the Jewish people will have trouble. B. I receivedmany letters, and will report on one. An important man, a Princeton professor,a Jew of German descent, Walter Kaufman . . . He thinks that it would behonorable for Israel if an announcement were made that we brought[Eichmann] to fair trial, denounced his deeds and the Nazis’. We are notbloodthirsty, and by setting him free we will demonstrate the Jewish genius inIsrael.The minutes shook in my hands. It was worth building this country and having atwisted trial just for this cabinet session alone. Light to the Jews, light to the nations,