ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: TURKEY’S BLACKMAIL ON ITS JEWISH COMMUNITY
Assyrian International News Agency
Aug 31 2007
The Anti-Defamation League recognizes the Armenian Genocide but is
opposed to the US Congress resolution of recognition because of the
Turkish State’s weight of threats on the Jewish community of Turkey.
On August 24, the Anti-Defamation League of the United States (ADL)
made volte-face by definitively recognizing the genocide of the
Armenians, after the steering committee of the campaign "No Place
for Hate" of Massachusetts (USA) severed ties with ADL because of
the latter’s hitherto denial of the genocide.
ADL’s new position, which had followed heated controversy, was
immediately adopted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the
other large Jewish lobbying organization in the United States. The
pressure exercised by the constituencies of ADL and AJC, which
brought about the progress in their position, caused hysteria in
the Turkish political circles who "until then sub-contracted" to the
American Jewish organizations part of Turkey’s communication policy
and program in the USA. In the context of a possible voting this
Autumn by the American Congress of the resolution on the genocide of
the Armenians, these changes in position led Turkey to denounce its
lobbying contracts in Washington, while the Turkish Prime Minister
Erdogan had lengthy discussions with President Shimon Perez, summoned
to bring the American Jews into step.
The ADL affirms that the League "had suddenly shared the appreciation
that […] the tragic events of 1915-1918 were actually the equivalent
of genocide". It adds however: "… we firmly continue to think that
a resolution of the Congress would be counterproductive and would
not facilitate the reconciliation between Turks and Armenians…".
The principal reason of its opposition to a resolution of recognition
by the American Congress is at the very least shocking: it is the
safety of the Jews of Turkey which is brought forward. "As long as
the ADL will remain an organization engaged firstly in the security
and the safety of the Jewish people, we cannot in good conscience
ignore the wellbeing of the 20.000 Jews of Turkey", declares the last
official statement of the ADL signed by its president Abraham Foxman.
Echoing a similar view, the Consul general of Israel in Turkey Mordehai
Amihai, highlighted his concern in the declaration: "I hope that the
Turkish population can differentiate between the State of Israel,
the ADL and the Jewish population of Turkey".
The Turkish government pressures on Israel aims to obtain the
realignment behind Ankara the American Jewish organizations, like
the ADL, and obtain support to their denial policy.
"The Jews of Turkey are hostages" declared Laurent Leylekian, the
executive director of the European Armenian Federation; "contrary
to the idea spread by a massive propaganda, this community, like
all the other non-Turkish communities, does not enjoy any freedom,
and is used to force the international Jewish organizations to betray
the principles of defense, of justice and of human dignity for which
they were however created" he explained.
"Blackmailing with the life and the safety of the minorities is
usual practice and in line with Turkish traditional policy; the
Armenians have had the horrific experience. It is urgent for the Jewish
organizations of Europe to support their American counterparts in their
refusal to yield to this odious blackmail" affirmed Laurent Leylekian.
The European Armenian Federation reminder: Anti-Semitic scathing
attacks such as "Mein Kampf" or the "The Protocols of Wise Men of
Zion" have been for several years the best-sellers in Turkey, like
are many armenophobic booklets.