In view of the infamous main gate of Auschwitz-Birkenau, 25 senior European politicians and former heads of state on Tuesday laid wreaths and lit candles in honour of the estimated 1.1 million people who perished there.

Reuven Rivlin, the tenth President of Israel, said: “Standing here, we are reminded of the darkest times of all for Jewish people in Europe. Seventy-nine years ago, when Auschwitz-Birkenau was [liberated], we framed the slogan ‘Never Again’.

“And we knew that the whole world adopted [the slogan] too. Until now, I was sure that the whole world learned the lesson. Since October 7, I’m wondering, are those words just words, or do they mean something?”
He added, “We know how to take care of ourselves in Israel, but we would like the whole world to remember: ‘Never Again’ are not just words.”

Wreaths that read 'Never again is now' laid on an execution wall at Auschwitz extermination camp, January 23, 2024

Rivlin led members of the newly-formed European Jewish Association Leaders Forum to Fight Antisemitism and Racism (ELCA), which he said on Monday he hoped would act as a “beacon of hope” to the world, to light memorial candles.

Taking part in the candle-lighting ceremony, part of the build-up to Holocaust Memorial day on Saturday, were former prime ministers of France, Greece and Sweden Manuel Valls, George Andreas Papandreou and Stefan Lofven, and former presidents of Montenegro and Slovenia Milo Dukanovic and Borut Pahor.

A second group led by Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli also lit candles. It included Seán Ó Fearghaíl, president of the Irish parliament, and Věra Kovářová, vice-president of the parliament of Czechia.

Delegation of European heads of state and journalists in front of the main gate at Birkenau, January 23, 2024

The ceremony, taking place in very cold weather and light rain, followed a morning tour of the death camp.

Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs of the Netherlands led attendees in reciting Kaddish.

EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin said: “If you would like to ensure that the Holocaust never happens again, it is only if leaders like you take the responsibility to not remain silent.

“Dear leaders, we urge you today, we are begging you, when you go back to your countries, please think about this place.”

Wreaths with each country's name at the International Monument to the Victims of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp, January 23, 2024

At the end of the proceedings, 25 senior representatives of European countries and a representative from the European Union took turns to lay wreaths at the International Monument to the Victims of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp.