The Simon Wiesenthal Center today expressed its indignation and protest at the recent decision of the Polish daily Fakt to refuse to publish ads publicizing the phone number of the Center’s special infoline for its “Operation: Last Chance” project in Poland.

In a statement issued today in Jerusalem, by its chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center called the decision “a transparent attempt to curry favor with those afraid of the truth about the participation of some Poles in the persecution and murder of Jews during the Holocaust.”

According to Zuroff, the Center did not anticipate the refusal by any of the local media to publish the ad whose text said:
“Information on Nazi war criminals Reward of 10,000 euros
Call (022)498-1507 Simon Wiesenthal Center/ Targum Shlishi “

“ The refusal by Fakt to publish this ad points to the difficulty of many Poles to deal with the fact that among those who assisted the Nazis in the annihilation of Polish Jewry were some of their countryman,” said Zuroff.