World Jewish News

American Jewish leaders yesterday praised Bulgaria for saving its Jewish population from the Holocaust

More than 50 representatives of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations expressed appreciation for the "historic decision" in 1943 by Bulgaria's officials "to refuse the Nazi regime's order to deport Bulgaria's Jewry despite the presence of German troops in the country."
Bulgaria's refusal to heed Nazi orders saved all of its 48,000 Jews from being deported to death camps.
About 45,000 of the country's Jews emigrated to Israel after its establishment in 1948, and today's Bulgarian Jewish community numbers about 5,000, most of whom live in the capital, Sofia.
At meetings with Bulgaria's president, prime minister and foreign minister, the American Jewish leaders praised Bulgaria's support for the United States and its friendly relations with Israel. NATO newcomer Bulgaria has sent soldiers to serve alongside U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Jewish leaders also pledged their support for five Bulgarian nurses sentenced to death in Libya and now in prison awaiting an appeal.
"We have always been involved in the struggle for human rights," said James Tisch, the chairman of the organization. "We understand the danger of holding five people in such strange circumstances ... and we want to help win their freedom."
Last May, a Libyan court sentenced the Bulgarian nurses and one Palestinian doctor to death by firing squad, saying they intentionally infected more than 400 children with AIDS in an experiment to find a cure.

Источник: haaretz.com