United Press International
Aug 18 2007
ADL fires official in Armenian dispute
BOSTON, Aug. 18 The U.S. Anti-Defamation League has dismissed a
regional director for arguing publicly that the ADL should recognize
the Armenian "genocide."
Andrew Tarsy has been head of the ADL’s New England operations for
two years and was civil rights counsel for the previous five. He told
The Boston Globe he was fired after a telephone conversation with
Abraham Foxman, the national director, in which he said the ADL’s
refusal to call the Turkish massacre of Armenians 90 years ago a
genocide is "morally indefensible."
In a letter explaining the ADL position, Foxman and Chairman Glen
Lewy said the organization recognizes that Turkey killed 1.5 million
Armenians. But they suggested the group does not want to anger
Turkey, one of the few Muslim countries that recognize Israel.
Some local ADL leaders told the Globe the firing could reduce support
for the organization. Steve Grossman, a former regional board member
living in the Boston suburb of Newton, called the firing "a
vindictive, intolerant, and destructive act."