Australian Foreign Minister to Visit Yad Vashem Sunday and Participate in Event Marking Establishment of Chair for the Study of Resistance during the Holocaust, in Tribute to William Cooper

On Sunday, December 12, 2010, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd will visit Yad Vashem.

The Foreign Minister will participate in a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance and visit the Children’s Memorial. Following the ceremony, he will participate in an event to mark the establishment of the Chair for the Study of Resistance during the Holocaust, in tribute to William Cooper. The Chair, part of the International Institute for Holocaust Research at Yad Vashem, will support the study of the phenomena of resistance against Nazi Germany and its collaborators during the Holocaust. Israeli Minister of Education Gideon Sa’ar will participate in the event.

The Chair is established with the support of the Australia Israel Cultural Exchange, who wanted to express their appreciation of William Cooper, leader of the Australian Aborigines League protest against the Nazi German government in the wake of the Kristallnacht pogrom against Germany’s Jews in 1938. Following are media arrangements for the visit.

Media interested in covering the visit MUST RSVP with the Media Relations Department at Yad Vashem: 02 644 3410 or estee.yaari@yadvashem.org.il .

19:30: Memorial Ceremony: Hall of Remembrance: Open with prior registration

19:45: Children’s Memorial: Closed to Cameras

19:50: Signing of the Yad Vashem Guest Book: Open with prior registration

20:00: Event marking the establishment of the Chair for the Study of Resistance during the Holocaust, in Tribute to William Cooper: Open with prior registration