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In response to the Knesset Speaker`s request: The Bundestag to join request to hold minute of silence for Munich victims during London Olympics
Publicized: June 26, 2012 The German parliament will join the demand for the World Olympic Committee to hold a moment of silence during the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, in memory of the athletes killed in the Munich Olympics terrorist attack. President of the Bundstag Dr. Norbert Lambert accepted the request by Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, made at the beginning of his formal visit to Germany together with Knesset Member Yaakov Edery. The German Parliament joins a line of parliaments whose members have called for a minute of silence at the Olympics, including Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia. Rivlin addressed his colleague on the subject after Anki Shpitzer and Ilana Romano, widows of the Munich victims Andrei Shpitzer and Yosef Romano, turned to him. Rivlin: “The inclusion of Germany, on whose ground the terrorist attack took place, is greatly significant. The call for a minute of silence marking the fortieth anniversary of the massacre is a moral call of the first degree directed at the Olympics Committee.” In the opening of the official visit, Rivlin and his German counterpart held a memorial ceremony on platform 17 in Berlin from which 55,000 Jews from Berlin were sent to their deaths during the Nazi government. During the ceremony the two placed wreaths on the site’s monument, lit memorial candles and participated in a reading of a chapter of Psalms and the Kaddish prayer. Leaders of the Jewish community in Berlin participated in the ceremony. In the coming days Rivlin is expected to hold additional meetings with the German leadership, including German President Joachim Gauk, German Chancellor Angela Markel, Foreign Minsiter Guido Westerwelle, head of opposition Frank Walter-Steinmeier, and others. Rivlin will also tour the Jewish Museum in Berlin, the Holocaust monument in the city and the Wanssee Villa.  © Copyright 2013, all rights reserved to the State of Israel or to third parties as detailed in this link. We welcome your Suggestions and Comments. Email: feedback@knesset.gov.il | |||||
