On the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Holocaust Memorial is inaugurated in the Yehudi Menuhin area in the European Parliament, in Brussels. Extracts from the Inauguration of the memorial with Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Isaac HERZOG, President of Israel, and of the reception with the testimony of Mr Alberto ISRAEL, Holocaust survivor.

Brussels

statement

EU - Israel (T)

ceremony

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

Holocaust remembrance (T)

HERZOG, Isaac

ISRAËL, Alberto

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: inauguration of the Holocaust Memorial - extracts

Title: International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Inauguration of the Holocaust Memorial - extracts

Arrival of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Isaac HERZOG, President of Israel

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, It is our collective duty to emphasise the importance of keeping the memory of the victims of the Holocaust alive. And more than that, we must teach our children the importance of tolerance, respect for human dignity and democracy. The European Parliament understands this. And so, as a symbol of our duty to never forget, I am proud to inaugurate this memorial called the Refugee. The artist himself, Felix Nussbaum, like so many others, was murdered in Auschwitz. Allow me to thank Yad Vashem for donating this very precious piece, one that I am honoured to say will serve as a permanent Holocaust memorial here in the European Parliament. Strategically located right next to our hemicycle.

Unveiling of the Holocaust memorial, the work of art The Refugee by Felix Nussbaum, in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Isaac HERZOG, President of Israel (8 shots)

SOUNDBITE (French), Alberto ISRAEL, Holocaust survivor, I know that you're going to hear is not good to hear, but I don't have anything else to tell you.

SOUNDBITE (French), Alberto ISRAEL, Holocaust survivor, On 16 August we arrived in Auschwitz, in Birkenau. They started to open the doors. For me, it chased everyone out of the car but unfortunately, a large part of the people couldn't get up. So the SS came and pushed us against their feet out of the wagons, and people fell to the ground. Once down they were already dead. On the other hand, those who could still stand up got off the wagons as everyone else got off the wagons there was much more space.

SOUNDBITE (French), Alberto ISRAEL, Holocaust survivor, Other workers came to find us.There were Greek workers, Jewish prisoners like us, but who had already been there for a long time and who were working in the commando zone. They said to the women: &ldquo;Give your children to the elderly, to your grandmothers, because they will be better cared for, they will be better received". We didn't understand why. But then we understood. And that's why they said to give babies to the old people.

Family picture with Alberto ISRAEL, Holocaust survivor, his family, Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Isaac HERZOG, President of Israel (1 shot)