JTA.org
ADL reverses itself on Armenian genocide
Published: 08/21/2007
In a dramatic reversal, the Anti-Defamation League’s national director
issued a statement Tuesday using the term "genocide" to describe the
massacres perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians.
The ADL and its national director, Abraham Foxman, have faced mounting
criticism in recent weeks for refusing to use the genocide label and
essentially opposing a proposed congressional resolution that would do
so. The controversy heated up last week when Foxman fired the director
of the ADL’s New England region for denouncing the organization’s
position in an interview with the Boston Globe.
"In light of the heated controversy that has surrounded the
Turkish-Armenian issue in recent weeks, and because of our concern for
the unity of the Jewish community at a time of increased threats
against the Jewish people, ADL has decided to revisit the tragedy that
befell the Armenians," Foxman said in his statement.
"We have never negated but have always described the painful events of
1915-1918 perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians as
massacres and atrocities," Foxman said. "On reflection, we have come
to share the view of Henry Morgenthau, Sr. that the consequences of
those actions were indeed tantamount to genocide. If the word genocide
had existed then, they would have called it genocide."
Foxman said that he had consulted with "friend and mentor Nobel
Laureate Elie Wiesel and other respected historians who acknowledge
this consensus."
The ADL leader said the organization still believes "that a
Congressional resolution on such matters is a counterproductive
diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and
Armenians and may put at risk the Turkish Jewish community and the
important multilateral relationship between Turkey, Israel and the
United States."