[MSN] Israel Museum Urged to Release Nazi-Plundered Art.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Israel Museum Urged to Release Nazi-Plundered Art 
16:08 Feb 04, '07 / 16 Shevat 5767
 

(IsraelNN.com) The Israel Museum is being told it must relinquish 400 works
of art stolen from European Jews by the Nazis in World War II.

A new Israeli law mandates that all property that belonged to Holocaust
victims be turned over to the Company for Retrieving Assets of Holocaust
Victims, a new organization charged with the mission of searching out
surviving victims or their heirs.

The company is also required to sell the assets if no heirs are found, and
distribute the resulting funds to the remaining survivors of the Nazi era
who are in need of assistance. The Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Institution
also stands to received a portion of the proceeds.

Most of the art is in storage although some works are on display. They
include paintings by early 20th Century painter Egon Shiele and French
impressionist Alfred Sisley. None have been claimed, and the museum is
fighting the edict, claiming it is holding the work as a national
institution of the Jewish State.

Published: 12:45 February 04, 2007
Last Update: 16:08 February 04, 2007  

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/