Kastner Case: Society, Ideology and Politics

Lapid has known Dr. Rudolf Kastner since 1951 when Kastner appointed him to work for the Hungarian newspaper Uj Kelet where he was night editor. Lapid describes Kastner favourably. At the same time his haughtiness and ambition earned him many enemies. This explains in part Kastner's negotiations with Adolf Eichmann while the "final solution" was going on. Lapid supported Kastner during his trial and was convinced that great injustice was done to him, knowing that the situation in Hungary at the time did not allow for a Jewish uprising. Kastner had no backing and nonetheless entered into negotiations with Eichmann. Lapid describes how Kastner after the verdict of Judge Halevi changed into a suspicious, frightened, hopeless person who knew that his end was near. The breaking point was when it was discovered that he had lied about giving a positive report about Kurt Becher at the Nuremberg trials. This led to the demonization of Kastner by prosecutor Shmuel Tamir. Lapid describes Judge Benjamin Halevi as not wise, rigid (Yekke) and estranged. The chief editor of Uj Kelet and many of its journalists supported Kastner which led to a favourable coverage of the trial. But there were also opponents within the management, headed by David Shen, which led to much stress and competition within the paper. This actually reflected the atmosphere among Hungarian Jews, the majority of whom supported Kastner. Lapid ended his report by expressing his hope that in future in some town in Israel a street or square would be named after Kastner.