Israel pledged $1 million towards refurbishing the Auschwitz death camp that will pay to preserve the barracks and gas chambers. The Auschwitz Birkenau Museum has established a Perpetual Fund to revamp the camp which has fallen into a state of disrepair. The goal of the fund is to finance a long term program for conserving the memorial. Polish officials hope to raise some $163 for the fund which will generate annual interest of some $5.5 million to $6.5 million for preservation. Avner Shalev director of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem said the site has become a key symbol of the Holocaust and of absolute evil, and is imperative that it be preserved and Israel participate in the effort. Other countries who have donated to the fund include Poland, Germany, the United States, Britain and Austria.