KNESSET COMMITTEE TO DECIDE WHAT COMMITTEE THE SUBJECT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO SUBMIT TO
ArmInfo
2010-05-10 16:51:00
ArmInfo. The discussion on the Motion for the Agenda on the subject
of the Armenian Genocide was held on the 28th of April 2010. 12
members of the Knesset voted for transferring the motion for further
discussions in one of the Knesset committees. Tomorrow the Knesset
committee will decide if the discussion will be held in the Foreign
Affairs and Defense Committee or in the Education Committee, says M.K.
Oron, Leader of Meretz Party, who submitted the Motion for the Agenda
on the subject of the Armenian Genocide.
M.K. Oron says he raised the subject of the Armenian Genocide in the
past 4 years close to the date in which the Armenian people notes the
genocide. In the discussion that took place at the Knesset Plenum M.K.
Oron said: "It’s the fourth year that I am raising this motion for
discussion hoping that in the end of the discussions the Knesset of
Israel will decide to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The date in
which the discussions take place is the day closest to April 24, the
day in which the Armenian people marks their Memorial Day. I repeat
every year and it is important for me to say this, it is not one of
the subjects that divide between right and left. People tell me: ‘Why
do you bring this subject up? Let’s give time to decide, let’s let
history and pick out the facts, let’s let things work out’. Members
of the Knesset , after all, we do not come to this discussion with
some concrete demands. We are not discussing here the compensation
for the Armenian people. We’re talking about something very basic:
the Jewish people’s recognition, the Knesset’s recognition in a
national disaster. The Armenian people fighting for this recognition
and our voices together with more than 20 parliaments in the world
are very important to them. I want to say very clearly: I am raising
this motion without addressing the concrete relationship between the
Turkish people and its government and the State of Israel. The source
of this motion comes from our responsibility and commitment as Jewish
people to not remain silent and not to close our eyes and to say the
obvious thing: genocide happened. The phenomenon of genocide is not a
historical phenomenon disappeared from reality. Even these days, even
in recent years, even in the midst of these days, there are severe
symptoms entering under the definition of genocide. The Holocaust of
the Jewish people is unique and incomparable. I think that by raising
this subject we are increasing the need to struggle against denial,
to fight blur boundaries and to struggle with closed eyes. There
are things in which we are tested beyond narrow interests. What’s
the purpose of the discussion today? The purpose of the discussion
for me is the repeated statement of the Knesset that the Armenian
genocide is an important issue that should be discussed. I want the
Knesset to decide to move this motion for further discussion in the
appropriate committee and at the end of this discussion the Knesset
will make its decision in a format similar to the decisions taken in
other countries".