World Jewish News

’45 years after the Munich Olympic massacre, we see the world’s silence again with the resurgence of anti-Semitism'

‘’45 years after the Munich Olympic massacre, we see the world’s silence again with the resurgence of anti-Semitism,’’ declared World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder in his address to the official inauguration of a memorial erected in honor of the 11 Israeli athletes and German policeman murdered by Palestinian terrorists on September 5, 1972.

“Today we mark not just a tragedy, but a terrible wrong that took place here 45 years ago. Let me be clear from the start. This monument should not have taken 45 years to build," he added.

“This monument is not just about Jews. It is about all people. No one anywhere has the moral right to inflict terror on anyone,” Lauder said.

He continued, “As president of the World Jewish Congress, I have seen the high price of world silence. World silence led to the Holocaust. We can see the results Just 40 kilometers from here at Dachau. World silence also played a role here in 1972 when Palestinian terrorists slaughtered 11 Israeli athletes and their trainers. They did not just commit murder. They destroyed the peaceful tradition of the Olympics games. 45 years after Munich, we see the world’s silence again, with a resurgence of anti-Semitism throughout Europe.’’

‘’What lessons have we learned since 1972? Lesson number one: Appeasement never works. Terror has only increased throughout Europe since Munich. Lesson number two: Stop repeating the lie that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom-fighter. Terrorists are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists. They kill innocent human beings. And this is lesson number three: We must stop them together,” he added.

EJP