Israel Says It Has Enough Evidence to Try Waldheim : Cabinet to Get Report on War Crimes Inquiry

Israel has enough evidence to put former U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim on trial for involvement in Nazi war crimes, Justice Minister Yitzhak Modai said today.

His statement to Israel radio was Israel’s strongest yet about allegations that Waldheim covered up his activities with the German army during World War II.

Modai told Israel radio that a Justice Ministry investigation ordered by Prime Minister Shimon Peres had found Waldheim indirectly responsible for war crimes in the Balkans.

“There is a basis for putting Kurt Waldheim on trial, if he were in Israel, for involvement in war crimes,” Modai said.

No Direct Proof

He said that Israel has no proof Waldheim was directly involved in killing civilians. But the evidence “certainly connects him, if not directly and personally, at least with lending assistance” to these activities, he said.

“We have enough proof that he, in his capacity as an intelligence officer in the German army in the Balkans, would pass on information and descriptions that he knew--by virtue of standing orders in the Nazi army--would, and did, lead to liquidation actions,” Modai said.

Israeli Justice Ministry spokesman Sivan Shalom said Modai’s final report on the investigation likely will be sent next week to the Israeli Cabinet.

“I’m not saying we’re going to bring him into court,” Shalom said. “We will issue a report and then the government will decide.”

Waldheim Interview

In an interview published in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper today, Waldheim was quoted as saying Jewish leaders were lying about his alleged responsibility for war crimes.

Waldheim, who is running for president of Austria, was quoted as saying that during World War II he was an active opponent of the Nazi regime. As a low-ranking German army officer in Greece, Waldheim asserted, he had no influence on what the Nazis did in the Balkans.

Waldheim fell just short of winning a majority of the votes in Austria’s May 4 presidential election and faces a runoff June 8.

Modai said Israel was questioning witnesses who claim they saw Waldheim personally carry out war crimes against civilians. If evidence is found supporting their claims, Waldheim “will become a prime suspect concerning actions of injuring, extermination and killing of civilian populations,” Modai said.

Allegations Denied

In the newspaper interview conducted in Vienna, Waldheim denied allegations that he knew Jews were being deported from Greece. The matter of killing civilians was not directly addressed.

He was quoted as saying: “I received information, wrote it down and that was the end of my role. Because I was a low-ranking officer I couldn’t give any orders. . . . It is stupid to accuse me of giving any orders.”

He was quoted as saying the World Jewish Congress “is lying by saying that my signatures meant I was taking any responsibility for anything.”

Waldheim was U.N. secretary general from 1972 to 1982.