On September 5, 1972, Palestinian terrorists murdered 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team during the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich. Two Israeli athletes were murdered in cold blood in the Olympic Village, and the remaining nine hostages and one German policeman died during a firefight at Fuerstenfeldbruck Military Airport. It was one of the most dastardly acts of terror committed by Palestinian terrorists.
On the 50th anniversary of the tragedy, the city of Munich is planning to hold a commemoration for the victims. However, the families of the victims are declining to participate due to their dissatisfaction with a 5.4 million euro compensation payment offered by the German government.
Hopefully, the differences can be reconciled and the event can go forward with the presence of the victims' families. With all due respect, however, I do feel that it is the Palestinians who should be offering compensation though we know that will never happen. I personally agree that the city should go ahead with the commemoration with or without the victim's families unless they demand themselves that the event be canceled. That is the view offered by one of the German officials quoted in the below article.
The below article from Sueddeutsche Zeitung (Munich) is translated by Fousesquawk.
Debate over commemoration for the victims of the 1972 terror attack
Cancel or not?
18 August 2022 17:17- Reading time 3 minutes
By Anna Hoben
Caption: Sign of support: At the European Championship Marathon currently taking place in Munich, a fan hangs an Israeli flag on the tribune. (Photo; Alessandra Schellnegger)
Charlotte Knobloch and the city leaders let it be known that they consider it important to hold a memorial event for the Palestinian terror attacks at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, even without the relatives of the victims. From the CSU (Christian Social Union party) come other voices.
In the anniversary year, there will be much to remember about the happy 1972 games-but the Summer Games in Munich half a century ago also had a horrible side. It was then that Palestinian terrorists carried out an attack on the Israeli team; 11 members of the team and a policeman died. On September 5, there is to be a central commemoration in Fuerstenfeldbruck for the victims. But the relatives (of the victims) have canceled their participation because they consider the promised formal compensation payment from the (German Government) in the amount of 5.4 million euros to be too low. The spokesperson for victims' families described the offer as an "insult" and as a "tip". Now a discussion has broken out as to whether, and if so, how commemoration can still go forward with dignity.
The Bavarian governmental Commissioner for Anti-Semitism, Ludwig Spaenle (CSU), has put the event in question. "We must seriously question if the commemoration can still be held after the cancellation of the relatives of the victims," he told the Germany Editorial Network. "It must not degenerate into the grotesque." The development has not surprised him, (and) he has warned for weeks that the complaints of the relatives of the victims be taken seriously and must be discussed on an equal footing.
Three months ago, he wrote to Federal Chancellor Scholz (SPD-Social Democrat Party), Spaenle explains in response to an inquiry by (Sueddeutsche Zeitung), and points out that the situation is "delicate and serious". To date, he has not even received an acknowledgment of receipt of his letter. In Munich, the memory of the crime has been completely suppressed until a few years ago, (and) the victims' families have been "unwanted supplicants on the back stairs". Now the climate, after the uproar over Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Scholz's subsequent reaction to his Holocaust-relativization at a joint press conference, has become even harsher. He, therefore, sticks to the (suggestion) that, "in light of the events," a cancelation must be (considered).
Charlotte Knobloch, the president of the Israeli Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria, let it be known that she doesn't think much of (Spaenle's idea). Her biggest wish would be, "in the end, that the event can take place in a dignified and meaningful form," she said when asked. She greatly hopes that the Federal Government and the victims' families, together and in a timely manner, can find a good solution-"in the interest of memory (of the victims) and our two nations".
Mayor Verena Dietl (SPD) thinks it shouldn't fail due to the money
After several years in which the memory of the Olympic attack played no great role in Germany, September 5, 1972 is today more in the public spotlight. "The task to keep alive the memory of this day concerns all of us." Visible public commemorations remain, "extremely important," especially for the younger generations who have no personal connections with Munich 1972.
The position of Munich's city leaders is similar. Mayor Verena Dietl (SPD) finds the developments "very regrettable". She hopes that the ongoing negotiations will end well, a consensus with the victims' families will be reached, and the recriminations will end. "It shouldn't fail based on the payments". The memorial event is an "important sign". The memory of the victims of the terror attack is now part of that. "People cannot act as if it never happened."
The Parliamentary leader of the Green Party, Dominik Krause, says that cancelation of the commemoration would help nobody. In his view, a cancelation should only be if the victim's relatives demanded it-otherwise, it is important that the city commemorate the event. He can understand the continuing displeasure of the victims' families, according to Krause, after the "completely unworthy and inappropriate" way they were treated for decades. He also believes, however, that the Federal Government is trying to make amends-and hopes that there will be a good solution. Basically, the Federal Government must find a new way to deal with the victims of right-wing extremist and anti-Semitic violence, including payments for damages.
The CSU party chairman in the city council, Manuel Pretzl, sees it differently. In this "bad atmosphere", we cannot be responsible for going through with the commemoration. "I would cancel it."
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