ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE: ISRAEL’S POLICY BECOMING MORE FAVORABLE TO ARMENIA

16:44 * 17.04.15

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide was formerly a taboo in Israel,
whereas that state is gradually shifting its foreign policy focus
which is more favorable to Armenia, and the Pope’s liturgy proved
shock therapy for the morally degrading world regardless of religious
affiliation, Head of the Jewish community in Armenia Rima Varzhapetyan
told Tert.am.

“As regards European Jews, I can only say that not only the
Christendom was impressed by the Pope’s remarks, but they also proved
shock therapy for the whole morally degrading world regardless of
religious affiliation. And all of them, both Christians and Judaists,
sobered up. And nothing human is alien to the people of Israel,”
Ms Varzhapetyan said.

According to her, recognition of the Armenian Genocide is “almost
a moral matter” for Israel, and that state will certainly recognize
and condemn the heinous crime.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is sending its members to numerous
communities in the United States to participate in commemoration of
1.5. million victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Armenia will host Israeli Culture Days on May 13-18, and numerous
well-known political figures, and “two very important persons” are
expected to arrive in Armenia.

Without naming them, Ms Varzhapetyan said that the powerful Turkish and
Azerbaijani lobby, as well as sponsors, in Israel may exert pressure
to prevent their arrival in Armenia.

Armenian political analysts are cautiously optimistic about some
progress in the attitude of Israel and European Jews to international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

“The ice is breaking,” said Hmayak Hovhannisyan, the chairman of the
Union of Armenian Political Analysts.

He said Israel has so far avoided acknowledging the Armenian Genocide
on a state level, being surrounded by Muslim that that haven’t
recognized the tragedy either.

According to Styopa Safaryan, Chairman of the Armenian Institute
of International and Security Affairs, there are reasons to expect
positive moves by Israel in light of past years’ deterioration in
the country’s relations with Turkey.

“So there’s nothing surprising about the fact that we had many visits
last year,” he told our correspondent.