The British, Swedish, and U.S. Embassies hosted a joint event at the British Ambassador’s residence in Ramat Gan to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration. Officials from Holocaust memorial organizations and ambassadors from member countries of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) participated in the event.
The Stockholm Declaration, created in 2000, was an initiative by Britain, Sweden, and the United States. These nations pledged to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. The Declaration serves as the guiding document for the IHRA, which promotes Holocaust education, remembrance, and research.
Speeches were delivered by British Ambassador Simon Walters, Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Rydmark, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Hallett, and IHRA Chair Dani Dayan. Diplomats from member countries including Germany, Poland, Italy, and others were also present.
A key moment of the event was the testimony of Michael Smuss, the last survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. At 99 years old, Smuss shared his experience of smuggling messages and supplies in the ghetto and his subsequent survival in concentration camps.
British Ambassador Simon Walters emphasized the Declaration’s role as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility for Holocaust remembrance. "It is incumbent on us all to ensure the horrors of the Shoa are never forgotten," he stated.
Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Rydmark recognized the continuing challenge of Holocaust denial. She affirmed Sweden's commitment to fighting antisemitism without excuses. "Antisemitism has no place in Sweden," she declared.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Hallett reiterated her country's devotion to seeking justice for Holocaust victims and combatting the rise of antisemitism globally.
The event underscored the ongoing importance of the 1998 initiative by Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and U.S. President Bill Clinton, which led to the establishment of the IHRA and the Stockholm Declaration during the 2000 forum.