Cabinet Meeting, 3.1.19511
Walter Eytan (Director General of the Foreign Ministry): I would like to add a few words to what I said here last week: all agree that sending a delegation to Germany, to function there under the auspices of the three Western powers of occupation, is the only way to deal with our demand for compensation if we do not want to forego what is due to us from Germany. The decision to send a delegation presents a chance to rescue whatever remains possible to rescue, for while the occupation authorities still exist, they will soon disappear and fundamental political changes will take place there. I must stress, therefore, that if we are to send this delegation, then this is almost the last moment to do so – it must be sent within a few weeks.
In view of this situation I urge you to arrive at a “yes” or “no” decision today. The matter cannot be delayed: now is the last moment.
I would like to inform you that following the prime minister’s idea of declaring a state of war between us and Germany, we requested judicial opinions from several legal advisors, including that of the Attorney General. Dr. Jacob Robinson, the legal adviser of our UN delegation, was clearly negative in his opinion.
Prime Minister David Ben Gurion: The Attorney General’s opinion was negative, too.
Minister Pinhas Rosen: I support Mr. Eytan’s proposal to send a delegation to the occupation authorities to conduct negotiations regarding our demands. We have been weighing this issue for several years and have not yet reached a decision.
Jews have much property in Germany. I will never agree that in addition to all that we suffered we should give up their property there. This attitude is beyond my comprehension.
It must be clear, though, that only a small part of the Jewish property in Germany belongs to Israeli citizens, for the majority of rich German Jews 1 Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett is absent as he was still abroad. See document no. 3, note no. 1.
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emigrated to the U.S.A. It is assumed that only 5 percent of that property belongs to Israelis, and that it alone amounts to $120 million.
Not attempting to rescue these properties is an absurdity. I was told that one of our ministers said that this money will contaminate us (Prime Minister David Ben Gurion: Money has no smell, as the proverb goes.); (Minister Dov Yosef: I said that.) Well, if Dr. Yosef said that, I am prepared to admit he is a greater idealist than I.
Had I a personal claim for a property worth £10,000, I would not only have done everything within my power to obtain this sum but would also have demanded that my government help me submit my claim. I wonder if Minister Yosef himself would have given up such a claim. I have no idea whether the chances of a positive response to our claim are great or small, but the attempt to submit a claim must be made, and this can only be done by sending a delegation over there.
Mr. Kempner, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Nüremberg Trials, who is now visiting Israel, told me that if the claim is forwarded formally by the State of Israel, its chances of being accepted are good, and that if we miss the opportune moment and wait until the occupation regime is over, our situation will be much more difficult.
Minister Eliezer Kaplan: I support the Foreign Ministry’s proposal of sending a delegation. Had we been able to punish Germany I would have understood such a move, but the only result of our refraining from any action will be that Jewish property worth tens of million of marks will remain in German hands.
This is beyond me.
However, let us not delude ourselves. True, the proposal is to send a delegation for the purpose of negotiating with the occupation authorities, but, gentlemen, it should be clear today that sometime in the future our delegation will have to enter direct negotiations with the Germans if concrete results are to be obtained.
Minister David Remez: I would prefer acting through diplomatic channels without sending an official delegation. I do not want us to send a delegation and have it return insulted, frustrated and empty-handed. Only if we are offered a proposal of mediation will we be prepared to negotiate directly with the Germans.
Minister Golda Meir: I have already proposed that we should submit a claim in the capitals of the occupation powers – in Washington, London, Paris and in Moscow, too.
Minister Pinhas Rosen: As far as I know, Washington has not responded at all to our approaches in this matter.
Minister Yehuda Leib Maimon: I propose that we do nothing.
Cabinet, 3.1.1951
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Cabinet, 3.1.1951
Prime Minister David Ben Gurion: Should we also forbid individual citizens submitting claims?
Minister Yehuda Leib Maimon: Private claims should be allowed. The government should do nothing.
It was decided:
(By a majority vote) Representatives of the State of Israel shall appeal to the central governments of the occupation powers with the demand of guaranteeing the payment of compensation and restoration of Jews’ property in Germany.
(By a 5:5 vote) To reject the proposal of sending an official Israeli delegation to the occupation powers.
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