Compensation for Olympic terror 50 years ago |
Victim families want to accept new offer
Agreement in the dispute over compensation payments for the families of the victims of the Munich massacre of 1972 – according to BILD information, they want to accept the new offer from the Federal Republic of around 28 million euros.
On Tuesday evening, the widows of the murdered Israeli athletes, Ankie Spitzer and Ilana Romano, met with other relatives of the bereaved to discuss the new offer. Previously there had been negotiations and discussions between the lawyers of the Federal Republic and those of the families all day long.
Then, later in the evening, the promise: Yes, they want to accept the offer.
All parties involved have to sign the agreement on Wednesday morning. In addition, the survivors should sign a confidentiality agreement on the specific amount of compensation.
With that one should protracted dispute be settled: The victims’ families accused Germany of not having adequately compensated them for massive mishaps by the German security authorities before and during the attack. Berlin had offered the relatives 5.4 million euros – according to the relatives, a “shame” as they say to BILD.
BILD reporter Antonia Yamin met Ankie Spitzer at the cemetery where her husband is buried
BACKGROUND: On September 5, 1972, Palestinian terrorists attacked the Summer Olympics in Munich. Eleven members of the Israeli team and one policeman died.
A commemoration ceremony is planned in Munich for the 50th anniversary of the assassination.
BUT: The relatives of the Israeli victims of the event had announced that they wanted to boycott the celebration. “50 years of abuse, lies, humiliation and rejection by the German government and especially the Bavarian authorities are more than enough for us,” wrote the survivors in a letter to Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (55, CSU).
But now the prospect of an agreement – and participation in the commemoration. Ilana Romano and Ankie Spitzer to the BILD reporter: “We hope to see you in Munich.”