ISRAELI PARLIAMENT REJECTS ‘ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’ RESOLUTION

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 15 2007

The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, declined yesterday to approve
a resolution recognizing Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of
the late Ottoman Empire, news reports said.

The resolution, submitted by lawmaker Haim Oron, drew anger from some
quarters in the Israeli government and was rejected by parliament,
the Anatolia news agency said.

"It is the duty of the Israeli parliament, as the representative of
the Jewish people, to express its opinion on the need to recognize
the Armenian genocide," Oron, who is from the opposition left-wing
Meretz Party, was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse. "It is
a debt we owe to the Armenian people and one we owe to ourselves."

The resolution urged the Israeli administration to mark April 24, the
day when Armenians claim the alleged genocide started, as "Armenian
genocide memorial day."

Oron said he has been under heavy pressure from Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert’s office as well as the Foreign Ministry to withdraw
his motion. "That [pressure] is something any MP must face," Oron
said. "Turkey has been exerting its pressure everywhere. This is their
right. But they can not set the agenda of the Israeli parliament."

Government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said that Israel "did not intend to
place itself at the forefront of this issue, which is being handled
by the international community."

Israel has close diplomatic ties with Turkey — one of the few Muslim
countries with which it has relations — and has in the past steered
clear of the recognition issue.

Turkey categorically denies charges of genocide, saying that Armenians
and Turks were killed in mutual attacks when the Armenians, backed
by Russia, rose up against the Ottoman Empire. The parliaments of a
number of countries have endorsed resolutions recognizing the alleged
genocide, causing serious deterioration in ties with Turkey.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress