This dispatch contains news about strongly pro-Nazi remarks by senior politicians in Austria and Latvia (which are both member states of the European Union), curbs on academic freedom in Egypt (to which no western teaching unions are objecting), claims by the number two in the Austrian Freedom Party that he worked for the Mossad, and plans by El Salvador to inaugurate an “Arafat square” in memory of the late Palestinian dictator.
CONTENTS
1. “Defender of Nazis to stay put” (Associated Press, May 30, 2005)
2. “Senior role for pro-Nazi parliamentarian” (Ynetnews, May 29, 2005)
3. Israeli reaction to senior Latvian’s remarks about Jews (Israel Foreign Ministry, May 29, 2005)
4. “Sichrovsky reveals Mossad cooperation” (Associated Press, May 28, 2005)
5. “Egypt blocks prominent playwright from entering Israel to receive honors” (Ha’aretz, June 1, 2005)
6. El Salvador to inaugurate an “Arafat square” in San Salvador
[Note by Tom Gross]
KAMPL: “THE NAZIS WERE BRUTALLY PERSECUTED”
Siegfried Kampl is an Austrian parliamentarian, a Nazi sympathizer and a member of Jorg Haider’s political party, the far-right “Alliance for Austria’s Future”. On July 1, 2005, Kampl is due to assume the presidency of Austria’s upper house of Parliament.
In a parliamentary debate in April, Kampl (who is currently representative for the southern province of Carinthia) argued that those who deserted from Nazi ranks were “comrade-murderers”. He said there was “brutal persecution of Nazis” following the end of the Second World War. Kampl said his father was a member of the Nazi Party like “more than 99 percent” of Austrians.
GUDENUS: EXSISTENCE OF GAS CHAMBERS “REMAINS TO BE PROVEN”
Days after the Kampl controversy, another right-wing member of the Bundesrat (the upper house), John Gudenus, contended that the existence of Nazi gas chambers “remains to be proven”. He was widely rebuked but, like Kampl, has refused to resign.
JORG HAIDER
Jorg Haider is the outspoken far-right former leader of the Freedom Party in Austria. He has described World War II concentration camps as “punishment camps” and said the Nazi SS was “a part of the German army which should be honored”. In 2000, the Freedom Party succeeded in joining the new Austrian government as a coalition partner. Haider created a new political party in April 2005 called The Alliance for Austria’s Future.
PETER SICHROVSKY CLAIMS TO HAVE WORKED FOR THE MOSSAD
In 1996, Peter Sichrovsky, a Viennese Jewish journalist with far-right opinions, was appointed by Haider as his number two candidate in the European elections. In 2002 Sichrovsky split with Haider over internal party politics. This week the Austrian news magazine “Profil” quoted Sichrovsky as claiming he worked for the Mossad during his time in Haider’s party, while Haider was holding talks with former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and other Mideast leaders. This claim is unlikely to be true, and it may be that the Associated Press has been irresponsible in giving the claim so much publicity. (See, for example, the AP story, below.)
ALEKSANDER KIRSTEINS, SENIOR LATVIAN POLITICIAN, “WARNS THE JEWS”
Aleksander Kirsteins, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Latvian parliament, following complaints by the Latvian Jewish Community over increased anti-Semitism, told the Jewish community “not to repeat the mistakes of 1940 and openly cooperate with the enemies of the Latvian people.”
In contrast to the situation in Austria, Kirsteins has now been expelled from his party by the Latvian government for making these comments, according to a report by the Baltic News Agency, BNS.
EGYPT BLOCKS PLAYWRIGHT FROM ENTERING ISRAEL
I also attach a story about an Egyptian playwright, Ali Salem, who has been blocked from entering Israel to receive an honorary doctorate from Ben Gurion University of the Negev (where, incidentally, a sizeable minority of students are Arabs).
This move by the Egyptian authorities is surprising since in the past Hosni Mubarak has visited Ben Gurion University, and in 1995 the university bestowed an honorary doctorate on Egypt’s then-ambassador to Israel, Mohammad Bassiouni.
The British university teachers union (the AUT) has not suggested launching a boycott of Egyptian Universities in response to this curb on academic freedom.
EL SALVADOR TO INAUGURATE AN “ARAFAT SQUARE” IN SAN SALVADOR
The BBC and Ynetnews also report today on the decision in El Salvador to inaugurate an “Arafat Square” in San Salvador. No other capital in the world has taken similar steps to honor the memory of Yasser Arafat, a brutal corrupt dictator who was reviled by many Palestinians and by Israelis and others.
I attach five articles, with summaries first for those who don’t have time to read them in full.
-- Tom Gross
SUMMARIES
DEFENDER OF NAZIS TO STAY PUT
“Defender of Nazis to stay put” (By Associated Press, as used by The Guardian, May 30, 2005)
An Austrian politician who said he would resign following criticism of his comments about Nazis said yesterday he had changed his mind, news sources reported.
Siegfried Kampl, who represents the southern province of Carinthia in the largely powerless upper house, came under fire after a debate in April in which he argued that those who deserted from Nazi ranks were “comrade-murderers”. He also argued that there was “brutal persecution of Nazis” after the second world war…
SENIOR ROLE FOR PRO-NAZI PARLIAMENTARIAN
“Senior role for pro-Nazi parliamentarian” (By News Agencies, Ynetnews, May 29, 2005)
... Kampl said he would give up his seat after he deplored the “brutal persecution” of Austrian Nazis after World War II in a radio interview on April 19. Last month, he said his father was a member of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party just like “more than 99 percent” of Austrians… Haider has come to Kampl’s defense. “They are actually asking people to chase him out and treat him as though he has committed a crime,” Haider said in an interview with ORF public radio...
ISRAEL FOREIGN MINISTRY REACTS TO CHAIRMAN OF THE LATVIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
“Israeli Foreign Ministry Reaction to Statement by Chairman of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Committee” (Israel Foreign Ministry press release, May 29, 2005)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is outraged by the statement (on 24 May) of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, Mr. Aleksanders Kirsteins. Among other things, Mr. Kirsteins said, in reference to the statement of the Jewish community of Latvia protesting the increase of antisemitism in Latvia, that the Jewish community “should not repeat the mistakes of 1940 and openly cooperate with the enemies of the Latvian people...”
SICHROVSKY CLAIMS MOSSAD COOPERATION, BUT SAYS HE IS “NO JAMES BOND”
“Sichrovsky reveals Mossad cooperation” (By Associated Press, May 28, 2005)
... Peter Sichrovsky, a former general secretary of the Freedom Party, was quoted by the Austrian news magazine Profil as saying he worked with Mossad at a time when Haider was holding talks with former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and other Mideast leaders.
“I cooperated with the Mossad until my resignation from politics,” he was quoted by Profil as saying. “I wanted to help Israel and certainly did nothing wrong. I am no James Bond.”
...Sichrovsky, a writer, said Israel was interested in exploiting Haider’s connections. “Israel wanted to use Haider as a bridge to the Arab lands with which no official contacts existed,” he was quoted by Profil as saying.
[Additional note by Tom Gross: Today both the Times of London and Ha’aretz run stories claiming that the Mossad used Sichrovsky to spy on Haider. Again, the information is unreliable.]
EGYPT BLOCKS PROMINENT PLAYWRIGHT FROM ENTERING ISRAEL
“Egypt blocks prominent playwright from entering Israel to receive honors” (By Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz breaking news, June 1, 2005)
Egypt has blocked Egyptian playwright and satirist Ali Salem from entering Israel to receive an honorary doctorate today from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Salem, considered one of Egypt’s most prominent contemporary playwrights, thanked the university for the honor and apologized for not being able to attend the ceremony...
Salem is known for his biting prose, and his plays have savagely attacked various phenomena in Egyptian society. In recent years he has published a series of articles in the Egyptian and world press, alongside humorous pieces and short satirical stories. His stories have been anthologized and are very popular...
DEFENDER OF NAZIS TO STAY PUT
Defender of Nazis to stay put
The Associated Press
The Guardian
May 30, 2005
www.guardian.co.uk/austria/article/0,2763,1495300,00.html
An Austrian politician who said he would resign following criticism of his comments about Nazis said yesterday he had changed his mind, news sources reported.
Siegfried Kampl, who represents the southern province of Carinthia in the largely powerless upper house, came under fire after a debate in April in which he argued that those who deserted from Nazi ranks were “comrade-murderers”.
He also argued that there was “brutal persecution of Nazis” after the second world war.
Though he has not withdrawn the statements, insisting they are the truth from his viewpoint, he has apologised for any pain they might have caused.
Under heavy pressure, Mr Kampl announced he would resign from next Tuesday. But yesterday he said he had changed his mind, the Austria Press Agency reported. He told the state broadcaster ORF that he had decided to stay on because of the attitude of Georg Pehm, who holds the upper house’s rotating presidency.
Mr Pehm last week described Mr Kampl’s statements as “absolutely unacceptable and harmful for the reputation of the upper house”.
Mr Kampl, 68, also said he intended to take over the upper house’s rotating presidency on July 1, as scheduled.
SENIOR ROLE FOR PRO-NAZI PARLIAMENTARIAN
Senior role for pro-Nazi parliamentarian
Siegfried Kampl slated to take rotating presidential post in upper house of Bundesrat; has deplored alleged persecution of Austrian Nazis
By News Agencies
Ynetnews
May 29, 2005
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3092204,00.html
Siegfried Kampl, 66, an Austrian parliamentarian who in the past has made pro-Nazi statements promised late last month to resign his seat by the end of May. However, it seems he has given the idea second thought.
Kampl announced that he would be appointed president of the upper house of Austria’s Bundesrat.
The seat of president is filled on a rotating basis by representatives of the country’s various provinces. If Kampl keeps his parliamentary seat, he will get the presidential post in July.
Kampl said he would give up his seat after he deplored the “brutal persecution” of Austrian Nazis after World War II in a radio interview on April 19.
Last month, he said his father was a member of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party just like “more than 99 percent” of Austrians.
On Sunday, Kampl, who is also running for mayor of Gurk, said that he stood behind what he had said.
“I might phrase my views a little differently, but fundamentally there is no change,” he said.
Kampl also said that he would resign from Joerg Haider’s Alliance for Austria’s Future, a junior partner in the ruling coalition. But then he had a change of mind.
He said he would not resign due to the “provocative” manner in which he was asked by Bundesrat president George Pehm, a Social Democrat.
Haider has come to Kampl’s defense.
“They are actually asking people to chase him out and treat him as though he has committed a crime,” Haider said in an interview with ORF public radio.
In April, days after the Kampl controversy broke out, another right-wing parliamentarian said the existence of the Nazi gas chambers “remains to be proven.”
The resurgence of the radical right in Austria has hurt that country’s diplomatic ties with Israel. In February 2000, Israel withdrew its ambassador from Vienna after Haider’s party joined the government.
Israel only returned its ambassador three years later when Haider was no longer occupying office.
ISRAEL FOREIGN MINISTRY REACTS TO STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF THE LATVIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Israeli Foreign Ministry Reaction to Statement by Chairman of the
Latvian Foreign Affairs Committee
May 29, 2005
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is outraged by the statement (24 May) of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima, Mr. Aleksanders Kirsteins.
Among other things, Mr. Kirsteins said, in reference to the statement of the Jewish community of Latvia protesting the increase of antisemitism in Latvia, that the Jewish community “should not repeat the mistakes of 1940 and openly cooperate with the enemies of the Latvian people.”
The Ministry views such threatening language with the utmost gravity and utterly condemns these insinuations.
We believe that Mr. Kirsteins’ statement will give rise to feelings of indignation among Latvia’s leaders and the majority of its citizens and we are convinced that his statement will meet with unequivocal condemnation. The Ministry is calling in the Ambassador of Latvia in order to inform him of the seriousness with which we view the matter.
[Note: In the meantime, the Baltic News Agency (BNS) reports (27 May) that Mr. Kirsteins has been expelled from his party, the People’s Party.]
SICHROVSKY REVEALS MOSSAD COOPERATION
Sichrovsky reveals Mossad cooperation
The Associated Press
(as used by The Jerusalem Post)
May 28, 2005
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1117247288934
A former senior official in Austria’s Freedom Party said he worked for Israel’s spy agency while serving alongside its one-time populist leader Joerg Haider, a news magazine reported Saturday.
Peter Sichrovsky, a former general secretary of the Freedom Party, was quoted by the Austrian news magazine Profil as saying he worked with Mossad at a time when Haider was holding talks with former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and other Mideast leaders.
“I cooperated with the Mossad until my resignation from politics,” he was quoted by Profil as saying. “I wanted to help Israel and certainly did nothing wrong. I am no James Bond.”
Sichrovsky could not be reached for comment Saturday. The interview is to appear in Profil’s next issue, due on Monday.
Haider, who since has founded a new political party, was quoted by Profil as saying Sichrovsky’s confession was “nonsense.”
Haider had visited Saddam on the eve of the Iraq war and formed a friendship with Moammar Gadhafi when the Libyan leader was an international pariah.
Sichrovsky, a writer, said Israel was interested in exploiting Haider’s connections. “Israel wanted to use Haider as a bridge to the Arab lands with which no official contacts existed,” he was quoted by Profil as saying.
Haider is known for past remarks sympathetic to the Nazis. He left the Freedom Party and founded the Union for Austria’s Future earlier this year.
EGYPT BLOCKS PROMINENT PLAYWRIGHT FROM ENTERING ISRAEL
Egypt blocks prominent playwright from entering Israel to receive honors
By Yoav Stern
Ha’aretz
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/582856.html
Egypt has blocked Egyptian playwright and satirist Ali Salem from entering Israel to receive an honorary doctorate Wednesday from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Salem, considered one of Egypt’s most prominent contemporary playwrights, thanked the university for the honor and apologized for not being able to attend the ceremony.
University President Prof. Avishai Braverman said in response: “I don’t understand Egypt’s conduct in not permitting the well-known writer Ali Salem to come to Ben-Gurion University in Be’er Sheva to receive the honorary doctorate, especially after every effort was made to enable his coming.”
The university is involved in numerous projects to promote peace between Israel and its neighbors and has nurtured ties with Egypt since the peace treaty with Israel was signed. Anwar Sadat visited the campus in May 1979, accompanied by Hosni Mubarak, to receive the Star of Peace along with Menachem Begin. In 1995 the university bestowed an honorary doctorate on Egypt’s then-ambassador to Israel, Mohammad Bassiouni.
Salem, 69, was among the generation of Egyptian playwrights that arose after the 1952 revolution, bringing with it theatrical flourishing. He was an actor and member of the state puppet theater in Cairo.
Salem is known for his biting prose, and his plays have savagely attacked various phenomena in Egyptian society. In recent years he has published a series of articles in the Egyptian and world press, alongside humorous pieces and short satirical stories. His stories have been anthologized and are very popular.
Since the Oslo Accords, Salem has braved criticism for publicly preaching peace and normalization of ties with Israel.
He has visited here several times, and chronicled his first trip in the book “Journey into Israel,” which became a best seller in Egypt and was published in Hebrew and English.