Response to Romanian statement concerning the Holocaust
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
Jerusalem, June 16, 2003

The Ambassador of Romania in Israel, Valeria Mariana Stoica, was
summoned today to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, following a
statement of the Romanian Government claiming that no Holocaust took
place in Romania between the years 1940-1945.

During a meeting with the Foreign Ministry Deputy Director General
for Central Europe and Eurasia, David Peleg, the Ambassador was
informed that Israel takes a grave view of the Romanian statement,
which is at odds with the historical truth, and detracts from the
steps taken by Romanian Governments to confront the past.

Mr. Peleg added that the Government of Romania must find a way to
correct this unfortunate statement, in order to return the bilateral
ties to the right path.