Overview
- Omri Boehm, a German-Israeli philosopher and grandson of Holocaust survivors, was invited to speak at the 80th anniversary of Buchenwald's liberation but his speech has been postponed indefinitely.
- The postponement was made to avoid a conflict with the Israeli government, which accused Boehm of Holocaust relativization, and to protect Holocaust survivors from being drawn into the controversy.
- Jens-Christian Wagner, director of the Buchenwald memorial, emphasized that Boehm was invited for his ethical reflections on history and human rights, not for political reasons.
- The Israeli Embassy in Berlin criticized Boehm's invitation as offensive, alleging he undermines Holocaust remembrance, though Wagner defended Boehm's integrity and scholarly contributions.
- The memorial foundation has committed to rescheduling Boehm's speech at a later date, while the April 6 commemoration will proceed with approximately ten Holocaust survivors expected to attend.