SCOTUS To Hear Two Holocaust Restitution-Related Cases

The United States Supreme Court is set to hear two Holocaust restitution-related cases on December 7 in what could prove to be a landmark case in the prosecution of crimes that occurred overseas and in which there was no direct American involvement.

"The court will decide if the United States has the jurisdiction, in accordance with the 1976 Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, to rule about crimes that happened abroad where there was no American involvement," reported the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).

Usually, foreign governments cannot be sued in US courts, although there are provisions if the crimes of which they stand accused include either acts of terrorism or property confiscation violating international law.

The plaintiffs in both cases, Federal Republic of Germany v. Philipp and Republic of Hungary v. Simon, will seek to have their cases heard based on the latter.

"In Federal Republic of Germany v. Philipp, the Supreme Court will hear the case about a German art museum and whether or not a treasure trove known as the 'Guelph Treasure' (or 'Welfenschatz') should be returned to the heirs of four Jewish art dealers in Germany," JNS cited.

The dealers have argued that they were forced to sell the collection - now estimated to be worth approximately $225 million - to the Nazi-controlled Prussian government in 1935 in what they called a “genocidal taking.”