ERDAN: KNESSET NOT THE PLACE TO MARK ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Ynetnews
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May 6 2009
Israel

‘We have a moral obligation to remember the killings, but this is
not the place’ speaking on government’s behalf, minister answers MK
Oron’s motion to formally mark Turkish persecution of Armenian people
during WWI

Zvi Lavi Published: 05.06.09, 00:22 / Israel News

The Knesset plenum discussed the motion put forward by Meretz Chairman,
MK Haim Oron, proposing that Israel officially recognize the Turkish
massacre of Armenians during World War I.

Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan delivered the
government’s response to the motion, saying "I agree that it is our
moral obligation. We have a moral duty to remember the killing of
Armenians." Erdan then read aloud the government’s response, which
objects to commemorating the massacre in the Knesset.

Oron files the motion every year, as close as possible to the memorial
day marked on the Armenian calendar, April 24th. The Meretz chairman
discussed the matter with a delegation of Armenian representatives,
clergy and civilians who were watching the Knesset’s debate from the
visitor’s gallery.

"I say – let’s create the parliamentary framework for the Knesset to
discuss an issue I believe the Knesset must discuss," said Oron. "It
is our duty to the Armenian people and to ourselves. There are those
who say we should leave it to historians to determine whether it
was genocide.

"There are Holocaust deniers who say exactly the same thing. They rely
on alleged historical sources and say there are doubts regarding the
numbers and figures of the Holocaust. Who else knows like we do that
there are some things you must fight for. Exactly one year ago this
motion moved to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee’s table,
and there it was buried. I propose that the Education Committee
conduct a procedural discussion on it."

Minister Erdan’s words were brimming with empathy for the Armenian
people, but he also noted the

inescapable political ramifications in regards to Israel’s relationship
with Turkey.

"Israel has never denied the terrible acts carried out against the
Armenians, and I am well aware of the intensity of the emotions given
the number of victims and the suffering of the Armenian people."

However, he said, Israel’s position is that "the study of the
events must be done through open discussion, and backed by the
historical data, not a political debate in the Knesset. Because of
our understanding of the pain and suffering, and so that Israel does
not become a side that deals with this from a purely political place,
I ask that we take this issue off the Knesset’s agenda."