After the Ramadan month of fasting, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr with feasts and family visits. The start of the holiday is traditionally based on sightings of the new moon, which vary according to geographic location.

"For too many years, there was a lack of understanding or reappraisal of the events, transparency about them or acceptance of responsibility for them," German minister says. The project is part of a larger government approach to seek reconciliation with the families affected.

The decision to tap minister for US role drew condemnation from many left-leaning Jews and prompted the US State Department to weigh in on past comments made by the firebrand Golan.