The decision on that course of action was made during a meeting yesterday between Sharansky, Knesset Member Yitzchak Herzog (Labor), long-time activist on behalf of Wallenberg, Max Blumberg, and Eli Yosef, better known as the head of an organization acting to release Jonathan Pollard from US jail. At the meeting, the participants examined various options to obtain further information on the fate of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swede who used his position of influence with Nazi officials to save the lives of tens of thousands of Jews during WWII. He was apparently arrested by the Soviets and imprisoned in a Russian jail in 1945, with no further word as to what became of him.
In an interview with Arutz-7, Eli Yosef said that in addition to the UN, Minister Sharansky will raise the issue with Russian officials, who may have the ability to discover what befell Wallenberg while in Soviet prison. Yosef charges: "They [the Russians] don't want to admit that they killed him or that they held him for many years in jail, so they prefer to stick to their version - that he died in 1947."
In Israel, Yosef said, it was decided that MK Herzog will propose a bill that would formalize and enforce the State of Israel's commitment to learn of Wallenberg's fate, to obtain his freedom if he is still alive and to promote his legacy. In addition, Minister Sharansky will ask that Minister of Education Limor Livnat award Wallenberg the Israel Prize, according to Yosef. In the past, such requests were rejected on the basis of the claim that Wallenberg was dead; however, says Yosef, "There is no evidence for that. And so, we must act on the assumption that Wallenberg is about 90 years old and still alive."
On June 22, when Eli Yosef had announced that he was undertaking a hunger strike to raise awareness of Raoul Wallenberg, he explained that while Wallenberg has been recognized as a "Righteous Gentile", the title was not accepted by his mother, who insisted Raoul is still alive and the honor should be bestowed upon him in person. In the past, Israel has been unwilling to search for Wallenberg, explaining that he is a Swedish citizen and his government should undertake such a responsibility, not Israel. Yosef explains that Wallenberg saved Jews, and therefore, the government of the Jewish State is responsible.
In explaining the need for public awareness of the issue, Yosef quoted Raoul Wallenberg's niece, Louise von Dardel, who visited Israel just last month: "If what happened to him is unimportant, then it is also unimportant what he did for the Jewish people."
In an interview with Arutz-7, Eli Yosef said that in addition to the UN, Minister Sharansky will raise the issue with Russian officials, who may have the ability to discover what befell Wallenberg while in Soviet prison. Yosef charges: "They [the Russians] don't want to admit that they killed him or that they held him for many years in jail, so they prefer to stick to their version - that he died in 1947."
In Israel, Yosef said, it was decided that MK Herzog will propose a bill that would formalize and enforce the State of Israel's commitment to learn of Wallenberg's fate, to obtain his freedom if he is still alive and to promote his legacy. In addition, Minister Sharansky will ask that Minister of Education Limor Livnat award Wallenberg the Israel Prize, according to Yosef. In the past, such requests were rejected on the basis of the claim that Wallenberg was dead; however, says Yosef, "There is no evidence for that. And so, we must act on the assumption that Wallenberg is about 90 years old and still alive."
On June 22, when Eli Yosef had announced that he was undertaking a hunger strike to raise awareness of Raoul Wallenberg, he explained that while Wallenberg has been recognized as a "Righteous Gentile", the title was not accepted by his mother, who insisted Raoul is still alive and the honor should be bestowed upon him in person. In the past, Israel has been unwilling to search for Wallenberg, explaining that he is a Swedish citizen and his government should undertake such a responsibility, not Israel. Yosef explains that Wallenberg saved Jews, and therefore, the government of the Jewish State is responsible.
In explaining the need for public awareness of the issue, Yosef quoted Raoul Wallenberg's niece, Louise von Dardel, who visited Israel just last month: "If what happened to him is unimportant, then it is also unimportant what he did for the Jewish people."