(L-R) German Ambassador to Israel HE Dr. Susanne Wasum-Rainer, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Israeli Ambassador to Germany HE Mr. Jeremy Issacharof
10 June 2020
Today, Wednesday, 10 June 2020, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi jointly signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem an agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Israel, renewing for an additional ten years Germany's previous decade long commitment to preserve and strengthen Holocaust remembrance by supporting archival and educational activities of Yad Vashem. The renewal will commence in 2022 and remain in effect through 2031.
Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev was present for the signing of this agreement together with Israel's Ambassador to Germany HE Mr. Jeremy Issacharof and German Ambassador to Israel HE Dr. Susanne Wasum-Rainer.
"The State of Israel and the Jewish people appreciate your personal commitment and the commitment of the German government, to preserving the memory of the Holocaust," Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi said. "The agreement that we just signed, does exactly that. The support to Yad Vashem will facilitate continued research, and educational activities, and I thank you for that."
"Germany has a special responsibility to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive," remarked German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. "This is why I consider the signing of this agreement an important step in ensuring Germany's commitment to the work of Yad Vashem. The Coronavirus epidemic has shown us that preserving memory and making it accessible to the public digitally must be increased. Additionally, Germany pledges to support the establishment of the new Shoah Heritage Campus at Yad Vashem."
"The German government has once again substantively declared and demonstrated its recognition of Yad Vashem as the world center for Holocaust documentation, research and education, and highlights its special meaning for the Jewish people and humanity,” said Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev. “This agreement, and similar alliances that Yad Vashem has secured with various governments and agencies around the world fortify the relevance of Holocaust remembrance and awareness in our global society."
"It is the perpetual responsibility of Germany's government and people to support accurate and meaningful Holocaust remembrance," stated Kai Diekmann, Chairman of the Society of Friends of Yad Vashem in Germany.. The messages of the Holocaust remain relevant to society today, and must be passed on from generation to generation to bear witness even once survivors are no longer in our midst."
