World leaders gather for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz
Holocaust survivors have warned of the surge in anti-Semitism around the globe, as world leaders and royals gathered for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
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Holocaust survivors have warned of the surge in anti-Semitism around the globe and warned that the “world is in crisis” amid the conflict in the Middle East.
Australian-Israeli businessman and Holocaust survivor Sir Frank Lowy, who lives in Israel, attended the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on Tuesday and said his life changed when his father Hugo “disappeared in the ether” when he was just 13 years old, murdered at Auschwitz.
Sir Frank said the commemoration must “remind the world of the evil” and “bring the issue of hate to the fore”.
He made the comments during an interview with Polish Television reporter Witold Tabaka that aired ahead of the commemoration at Auschwitz.
“In this beautiful world of ours we can make it better for most of us most of the time … and at the same time not to forget what has happened,” Sir Frank said.
The 94-year-old said lessons must be learned about “how bad and terrible anti-Semitism is, we need to respect each other”.
Speaking on the Israel-Gaza conflict he said: “We will not give up”.
“We will be victorious in our land and we are home for the Jewish people forever and ever and ever,” Sir Frank said.
Survivor Tova Friedman revealed the horrors of being imprisoned when she was just six years old.
The 86-year-old Ms Friedman was among about 56 Holocaust survivors alongside the world’s leaders and dignitaries to descend on the former concentration and extermination camp in Poland, detailing atrocities that claimed the lives of more than one million Jews in a five-year period during WWII.
Only Holocaust survivors and dignitaries associated with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum spoke at the sombre two-hour service.
American businessman Ronald S. Lauder gave an address on behalf of the donors of Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and said: “It’s hard for us to believe today but we see the sudden violence of hatred against Jews.
“Fifteen months ago, not 80 years ago, we saw Jewish children slaughtered, once again for one reason, because they are born Jewish.
“What happened in Israel on October seventh, that happened here in Auschwitz – one common thread – the age-old hatred of Jews”.
Leaders from around the world attended the service including King Charles III – the first British monarch to visit Auschwitz, Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary, French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Australia’s delegation included Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who is Jewish.
But the Australian Monarchist League [AML] has questioned why Governor-General Samanatha Mostyn was not present at the Auschwitz commemoration event.
“The Governor-General, after all, is Australia’s executive head of state and, as such, should be representing Australia at such an important gathering,” AML chair Philip Benwell said.
“Politicians only represent their political party ideology whereas the Governor-General is there to represent all Australians. If the government did not wish this Governor-General to represent Australia at such a significant occasion, then why did they nominate her for the office?”
King Charles III delivered a speech at the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow and spoke with Holocaust survivors before he attended the commemoration.
“In a world that remains full of turmoil and strife, and has witnessed the dangerous re-emergence of anti-Semitism, there can be no more important message – especially as the United Kingdom holds the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance,” King Charles said.
“As the number of Holocaust survivors regrettably diminishes with the passage of time, the responsibility of remembrance rests far heavier on our shoulders, and on those of generations yet unborn”.
Sky News Australia will air a replay of commemoration service at 3pm AEDT on Tuesday.
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Originally published as World leaders gather for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz