There's no question that the loot was stolen from Jewish hands, but Livnat is simply an idiot to claim that Christian artefacts are 'immensely important to the Jewish people'. This is more driven by greed than anything else.

Do it really matter if this was Christian Art, or Buddhist Art or Jindu Art or Moslem Art or Jewish Art? It was legally purchased by the Jewish art dealers and hence became their property. And the property was illegally taking away from them by the Nazis.

well... I´m not exactly an expert in arts. But 4.1 Million Goldmark seem really a lot of money - I mean, back in the 1930s. To say, these things were "stolen" seems at least not obvious.

Why greed? If the artifacts are of significance then they are international or put another way, universal. If someone is offended by the symbolism of christian artifacts being owned by Jews then the accuser is guilty of something that is of greater significance here. In the past I have been told that Jews have no right to look like everyone else or employ non-Jews. There are all kinds of variation to this theme. Perhaps David you should look into your heart and ask exactly what it is that offends you in the story. The easy question if you can't face it, is to ask yourself whether you would be so offended if the roles were reversed?

Such artifacts must stay in Christian hands. Give the current heirs a fat sum of coin, but no objects.

Why is the government involved in this case anyway? Israel didn't exist at the time. Return Palestinian property first before you demand anything from others.

Return the land you looted before whining about some old artifacts

When the British return those then may-be all the rest of you can get your stolen property. I am particularly amused that the State of Israel is involved in this as.... the State of Israel and its Museums have REFUSED to return Art Works they received from Germany to their rightful owners.

Clearly, ethics 101 was never a course in the education systems of Sweden, Cameronia or Splitonia. The conflict with the Pals or the origin of the art is completely irrelevant to the story. To marry the two stories is useful only for those of us who try to understand why the world is such a mess.

Germany experienced hyper inflation during the early 1920's so that by the end of 1923 prices were doubling every two days and one dollar was equal to about 4.2 trillion reichmarks. The reform that followed removed 12 zeroes from the paper currency. Nevertheless they were not goldmarks as by 1931 Germany had gone off the gold standard. It is not unreasonable to assume that if herr Goering was negotiating the sale then generosity would not have been a hallmark of the transaction. Perhaps someone can come up with a scholarly conversion for us all?

... the rightful owners of which happen to be Jewish. Using the "logic" of some of the talkbackers, any non-Jew who owns a Chagall must immediately give it up.

I don't know if Israel has weighed in on the matter, but Iraqi Jews - and all Jews - should be concerned about the US' intention to return to Iraqi authorities a cache of historic documents stolen from Jews during the reign of Saddam Hussein. Found by US forces in Baghdad, this cache of documents and sacred texts was taken to the US to be restored. Now Iraq is demanding they be returned to them. But they don't belong to them. They're stolen goods. They should be turned over to the exile Iraqi Jewish community, most of them now in Israel. The Iraqi Jewish Heritage Center (if I have the name correct) is a fitting recipient.

This land is ours, all your bibles and qurans even say it so. we have over 5000 years of recorded history as evidence, what do the palestinians have except of anti-semetism in the world taking their side out of spite for the jews, or willful ignorance! there were no muslims here before the muslim conquests! all the jews before here were forced to leave or convert! i wouldn't be suprised if some palestinans are decendts of jews, the rightful owners of this land!

Well, it seems to me the Vatican owns way more of its share of Judaica. Why do they need it?

I love Israel, but when will Israel give holocaust survivors the money that it is arbitrarily withholding. I am a holocaust survivor and a dual Israeli - Canadian citizen, lived in Israel, served in IDF as an officer, and yet I am denied the reparation payments because I don't reside in Israel. This is MY MONEY that the state of Israel has confiscated. Israel is demanding from Germany property of Jews, and yet doesn't forward money to the survivors

The Elgin Marbles were actually purchased & all was legitimate with the sale. Well at least for the time. The logical extension of you point is that Italy (Rome & particularly the Vatican) returns artefact sto Britain, Gaul, Germany etc. The Greeks can return what they got, The French can do the same & the British, Spanish & Portugese & so on. Israel will greatly thank you since Israel & the Jews were historically forced to buy everything. Judaic artefacts in collections & museums everywhere mostly looted by invading armies. So I hope you voice will be heard when other Jews try to reclaim what is theirs.

We never took the lice and flea-ridden goats and sheep from the ersatz "Palestinian" people. Those are your "treasures." You certainly never contributed anything to the land; you can take back whatever you brought from the Hejaz in the Western Arabian desert and Iraq, from when you sprang. Take your mangy "treasures" with you as you go.

Jewish land -- which had been looted and desecrated and fouled for 2,000 years by adherents to Christianity and Islam -- has been restored to its rightful owners. And we have lovingly restored it. Contrast the barren, desolate, desert-to-the-south and malarial-swamp-to-the-north which greeted the Jews to the veritable lush paradise that is Israel today. That said -- when is Sweden planning on returning everything it has stolen -- including land -- to the Sami people? You live in a glass house. Best not throw stones.

I'm sure that you live on the land that belongs to Indians..:-)

Some of the comments, are either dumb, illogical or outright anti-Semitic!! If Christian objects should remain in Christian hands, please request the Vatican returns the tens of thousands of ancient Jewish manuscripts from their library!! Along with the hundreds of Torah scrolls and other Jewish treasures stored there. The Russians, the British, the French and others should do the same! Should I hold my breath until it happens??

Will never understand the thrill JEW-HATERS get denigrating Jews in the talkbacks.Palestinians have nothing to do with this,nor does Israel who as the Jewish state is only helping to facilitate.The fact that some of you think that Hitlers Deputy Hermann Goerring would give a "fair" deal to people he planned to exterminate is fatuous.

Jewish land -- which had been looted and desecrated and fouled for 2,000 years by adherents to Christianity and Islam -- has been restored to its rightful owners. And we have lovingly restored it. Contrast the barren, desolate, desert-to-the-south and malarial-swamp-to-the-north which greeted the Jews to the veritable lush paradise that is Israel today. That said -- when is Sweden planning on returning everything it has stolen -- including land -- to the Sami people? You live in a glass house. Best not throw stones.

stolen Palestinian land, house, bank accounts. Arabs had nothing to do with the "holocaust" Many jews found refuge in Arab countries.

Germany refused to return East German real estate of Austrian Jews. Thieves as always.

Because to relinquish it would reveal the fraud that Roman Catholicism has perpetrated upon the world.

Peddle your own dog-eared scrolls in the search for coin and profit.

Israeli or not , when you live abroad you have to turn to the German authorities to receive something . But it's a little too late i think to introduce your demands