Together with a number of other world leaders, Crown Prince Haakon will attend the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Jerusalem on Thursday.
On Thursday, Crown Prince Haakon will represent Norway during the commemoration at the Holocaust Memorial Center Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. The Crown Prince will place a wreath on behalf of Norway during the commemoration ceremony.
The day before, the Crown Prince will attend a reception and dinner hosted by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
Crown Prince Haakon will also meet representatives of the Norwegian Jewish community.
World leaders participate
In total, 46 presidents, prime ministers, members of royal houses and parliamentarians from around the world will participate in the commemoration.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prince Charles of the UK will speak during the event. US Vice President Mike Pence has not been officially confirmed, but is also listed on Yad Vashem’s website as one of the speakers during the commemoration.
In addition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will participate.
75 years since the Holocaust
This year’s edition of the World Holocaust Forum is entitled “Remembering the Holocaust, Fighting Anti-Semitism” and is the fifth in a row. It is organized by the World Holocaust Forum Foundation in collaboration with Holocaust Memorial Center Yad Vashem.
– In light of growing hateful and violent anti-Semitism, especially in Europe, the aim is to highlight the dangers of anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia, as well as commemorating the Holocaust and the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau 75 years ago, the program description states.
The Holocaust is a term for the Nazi genocide of the Jews before and during World War II. The goal was a total annihilation of Jews all over the world and their culture and history. More than six million Jews were killed in the period 1938 to 1945.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
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