Gary Fitleberg, February 2, 2005

Israel observed a national commemoration day in honor of the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg for the first time yesterday. Born to a wealthy Swedish family that converted to Christianity, Wallenberg saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II by issuing fake passports. He disappeared after the country was liberated by the Russian army.

Wallenberg was last seen Jan. 17, 1945, when Soviet military officers escorted him to Red Army headquarters, alleging he was a U.S. spy.

Minister of Diaspora Affairs Natan Sharansky, who was behind the initiative, told the Knesset that Wallenberg's story should be taught as part of the school curriculum. MK Yosef Lapid told the plenum that his mother was one of a group of 30 women Wallenberg saved from deportation.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2005 Gary Fitleberg