Group seeks to return Holocaust victims' assets
By GIL SHEFLER
09/12/2012 02:48
Hashava Company launches three-month campaign to return Israeli property purchased during Holocaust to its rightful heirs.
Holocaust survivors at Yad Vashem Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski
In the first half of the 20th century many fervent Zionist Jews living in Europe
invested in the Jewish settlement in Palestine by buying stakes in local
industries or agricultural and residential land. Many perished in the Holocaust
and did not live to see the creation of the state. Most of their assets went to
the government of the fledgling Jewish state, which has been holding on to them
for over six decades.
But now the Hashava Company has launched a campaign
aimed at returning the property to its rightful heirs, it announced on
Wednesday. “What differentiates Hashava from other Holocaust restitution
companies is that the assets are currently located in Israel and are waiting to
be claimed by rightful heirs,” said Dr. Israel Peleg, CEO of Hashava in a
press release.
“We want to honor the ideals and legacy of those who
perished in the Holocaust by making sure their investments reach their
relatives, along with some part of their legacy,” Hashava said on
Wednesday.
The company is currently looking for such heirs in North
America. It invited relatives of some 60,000 property owners to search its
online database to determine their eligibility. The campaign begins
mid-September and lasts for three months.