The Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Israel, Duško Kovačević, presented the honorary doctorate of the University of Banja Luka on May 3, 2026, in Jerusalem to Efraim Zuroff, Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
The ceremony was also attended by the Bishop of Pakrac and Slavonia, Jovan, and the Director of Vojvodina Archive, Nebojša Kuzmanović.
It should be recalled that, on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the successful work and development of the University of Banja Luka, the honorary doctorate of the University for the promotion of truth was awarded to Dr. Efraim Zuroff, Director of the Wiesenthal Center Office in Israel and its Eastern European Affairs Department.
“The recognition I received from the University of Banja Luka is a great honor, but also a great responsibility. This is one of the dearest and most important recognitions I have received during my career. I regret that I was unable to come to Banja Luka, but I take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for this exceptional recognition,” Zuroff said in a video address at the formal academy marking the University’s 49th anniversary, held on November 7, 2024, at the Banski Dvor Cultural Center.
“We must fight against the revision of history and the minimization of crimes committed during World War II. There is no doubt that Serbs suffered the most in this region, and therefore we must oppose all forms of revisionism. I have always pointed out these anomalies, and I will continue to do so,” he added.
“In The Republic of Srpska, a Remembrance Day is held every year in Donja Gradina Memorial Site, commemorating the genocide committed against Serbs, Jews, Roma, and anti-fascists in the Jasenovac concentration camp. One of the most significant achievements of my work as a Nazi hunter is precisely related to Jasenovac—the bringing of its camp commander Dinko Šakić to justice,” Zuroff emphasized in his speech.
“I did not choose to pursue Nazi hunting because I thought it would be easy, but out of a sense of responsibility and duty toward those who were killed during World War II,” he stated.
Efraim Zuroff is an Israeli historian of American origin and a Nazi hunter who, over the past 44 years, has played a key role in bringing Nazi and fascist war criminals to trial, earning him the nickname “the last Nazi hunter.” For this region in particular, his role in the discovery, extradition, and trial of Dinko Šakić, commander of the Jasenovac concentration camp, is especially significant.
Over the years, Zuroff has published more than 500 articles, reports, and commentaries on various topics related to the Holocaust and other issues of importance to the Jewish people. He is the author of several books, and his activities as a Nazi hunter have been the subject of television documentary films.
