These People Have Waited Long Enough For What Is Rightfully Theirs

American Jewish Committee
Wednesday, 13 August 1997

The American Jewish Committee welcomes the settlement reached yesterday between Swiss banks and Holocaust survivors. The agreement to return $1.25 billion in assets -- assets placed in Swiss banks for safekeeping, or stolen by the Nazis from Jewish victims and hidden for decades in secret accounts -- is a fitting, if belated, agreement.

This accord brings a measure of closure to half a century of injustice and pain for thousands of Holocaust survivors and the families of Holocaust victims. Finally, their voices have been heard, their stories have been told, and they have been afforded at least some of the respect and dignity that have eluded them for too long.

We are hopeful that the process of distributing the funds can begin quickly and can be handled in an effective and orderly fashion. These people have waited long enough for what is rightfully theirs.

We commend the concerted efforts of those who helped us reach this moment, including, among others, the U.S. Government and especially Under Secretary of State Stuart Eizenstat, Senator Alfonse D'Amato, New York City Comptroller Alan Hevesi, the World Jewish Congress, and, of course, the survivors themselves who never gave up hope.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org