Ynetnews, Israel
April 6 2008

Fitting diplomatic price

State of Israel has Jewish obligation to recognize Armenian genocide,
refugees’ plight

Reuven Rivlin Published: 04.06.08, 07:41 / Israel Opinion

The Knesset has recently regained its honor by retracting its old
stance and deciding that the recognition of the Armenian genocide
must be discussed by parliament. About a year ago, the Knesset plenum
rejected a proposal to discuss the same forgotten genocide, which
took place during World War I and during which nearly a third of the
Armenian people were murdered by the Turks.

Many of those who opposed the proposal then, first and foremost
Foreign Ministry representatives, argued that diplomatic pragmatism
dictates that Jews should not get in the way of such a sensitive
issue dividing Turks and Armenians, which took place almost a hundred
years ago and which could strain Israel’s relations with Turkey and
jeopardize Israel’s interests.

The Foreign Ministry continues to advocate this stance today, again
claiming that foreign relations with Turkey might suffer from such a
debate.

There is no doubt that Israel’s foreign relations should be steered
sensibly and cautiously, in order to strengthen and promote Israel’s
interests. Naturally, diplomatic relations require of a state to
sometimes withdraw or concede principles that could do it more harm
than good.

But the question is – what is the limit? Can the State of Israel give
up the moral foundation of its existence which cries out against any
act of genocide? Should the State of Israel, for the sake of its
vital connections or its relations with an ally – be part of a denial
of the genocide?

Israel can’t shirk moral responsibility
The Jewish nation has produced the national-Zionist movement, which
has no match in terms of moral leadership in recent centuries. How
can we, of all nations, forget the catastrophes that have befallen,
and that still befall, other nations?

The State of Israel is an eternal memorial for "Thou shalt not
forget." The terrible holocaust that has been inflicted on us has
etched onto our identity – alongside the national tragedy – the
sympathy, sensitivity and cry against the disasters of other people,
even when this involves national embarrassment or a certain
diplomatic price.

With regards to the Armenian holocaust – the discussion in the
Knesset on the question of recognizing it as genocide conveys
sympathy and solidarity with the ethnic tragedy, more than an
accusation. The Knesset does not wish to condemn modern Turkey, but
to act as Jews who are subjected to the judgment of history. We
cannot, in the name of political or diplomatic wisdom, suppress such
fundamental human values, which touch on the roots of our tragic
existence.

This principle stood at the core of one of Menachem Begin’s first
decision as prime minister in 1977, to absorb hundreds of Vietnamese
refugees who fled the bloodshed in their country, and provide them
with a home. Begin, at the time, preferred the humane course over
whatever diplomatic consequences this decision has inevitably
produced.

Today we are faced with the same difficult dilemma regarding the
Sudanese refugees on our southern border, when what is at stake is
perhaps not political or diplomatic considerations, but certainly
grave social and security ones. On the Sudanese issue as well, I
believe that the State of Israel has a Jewish, moral and human
obligation to be part of a regional or international task force that
will provide these refugees with shelter until they can return to
their homeland.

If we shirk the duty of bearing this Jewish, ethical and educational
message, we will not be able to demand of the world to recognize our
own holocaust. Those who deny the tragedy of one of the world’s
nations will eventually face a denial of their own tragedy by the
world. genocide

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