There was no apology, no full inspection of the files, and the financial compensation is also inappropriate. 50 years after the attack at the Olympic Games in 1972, an agreement with the families of the Israeli victims is getting closer.
After decades of struggle for adequate compensation for the families of the victims of the attack at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, a solution seems to be on the horizon. A spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that a decision had been made “to articulate again the serious consequences for the victims’ families in immaterial and material terms”.
The Palestinian terrorist commando “Black September” murdered eleven athletes and coaches of the Israeli Olympic team on September 5th and 6th, 1972. A German policeman was also killed during the unsuccessful liberation operation. The security authorities had previously disregarded warnings of an assassination attempt, and the attempt to free the hostages at Fürstenfeldbruck Airport near Munich is considered clumsy.
In the five decades that followed, the survivors were denied adequate compensation payments and an apology from the German side, and the authorities also did not allow full inspection of the files. The victims’ families around their spokeswoman Ankie Spitzer, widow of the murdered fencing trainer Andrei Spitzer, had therefore previously refused to take part in the main commemoration ceremonies in Munich and Fürstenfeldbruck.
The spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior told the “SZ” that the federal government had “reassessed” the attack and its consequences “in the past few weeks”. The “renewed financial benefits” were to be provided jointly by the federal government, the Free State of Bavaria and the state capital of Munich 50 years after the attack. In addition, a “complete and comprehensive review of the events of that time” is planned.
The spokesman did not provide any information about the amount of the compensation offer. “Trustful talks are currently being held with the representatives of the victims’ families”, which, according to “SZ” information, should be completed by the end of this week.
Ankie Spitzer had canceled a visit to Munich planned for this week at short notice, citing the unresolved question of compensation. In 1972 and 2002, the victims’ families had already received payments. However, these were very small and were declared as humanitarian aid in order to avoid an admission of guilt by the German side.