Wiesenthal Center Welcomes Crucial Historical Changes To State Department Website

WIESENTHAL CENTER WELCOMES CRUCIAL HISTORICAL CHANGES TO STATE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE

Center says, “In a world where terrorists and Holocaust deniers even lead nations, Hitler's’ ‘Final Solution’ mustnever be underplayed or forgotten.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Center praised the U.S. State Department for immediately acting to make changes to its “BackgroundNote” on Germany to clearly stress the implementation the Holocaust. The previous entrya key component of the State Department’s website-- contained only a general reference to the crimeof 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 eliminateEurope’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 anew 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 thenloaded to its website. The revised note can be seen at: www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3997.htm