Holocaust Victims May Soon Be Repaid

American, Swiss and Israeli government officials, Jewish groups and Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, R-N.Y., Friday agreed to begin a process that could start compensating Holocaust victims as early as this summer for gold that was stolen by the Nazis and hidden in Swiss bank accounts during World War II.

In the first meeting of all of the parties who have been wrestling with the issue of Swiss bank actions more than 50 years ago, all sides agreed that speed is important because victims are aging and dying.

They recognized, but did not dwell on the fact, that it was delays and obfuscation on the part of many governments for half a century that let the issue languish until now.