ISRAELI KNESSET REFUSES TO DEBATE ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’
Azer Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 15 2007
Israeli Parliament refused the proposal of Khaim Oron, parliamentarian
from MEREC party on discussing so called Armenian genocide, APA Israel
bureau reports.
15 parliamentarians supported the discussions and 12 wanted the
problems to be discussed at the commission of the Parliament. The
initiator of the discussions Khaim Oron said Israeli Foreign Ministry
and chancellery of Prime Minister exerted pressure on him after he
put forward the proposal. He said that those who are against the
discussion of alleged Armenian genocide are afraid that it can harm
Israel-Turkey relations.
Israel always had one-sided approach to the "Armenian genocide" –
all governments considered the claims that a genocide as committed
against Armenians in 1915 groundless. Israeli government never used
the phrase "genocide" with regard to it. There are a lot of facts
proving Israel’s support for Turkey’s position.
The demonstration of the film "Armenian settlement in Jerusalem"
about "Armenian genocide" was banned in 1978 and Israeli government
interfered with the international congress on Holocaust and genocide
problems in 1982.
Besides, the government did not allow publication of opinions about
"Armenian genocide" in the calendar. The demonstration of the film
"Armenian policy" made in the US in 1990 was banned. The position
of Israeli government on genocide claims also influences on
Israel-Armenian relations.
Israeli experts state that Israel supports the position of Turkey,
its main partner in foreign policy, military and economic spheres.
Jewish lobby supported Turkish lobby in prevention of approval of
Armenian genocide resolution by the US Congress. Israel’s position on
the alleged Armenian genocide is connected with not wanting to lose the
status "Suffering nation of the 20th century" and close cooperation
with Turkey. Besides, there is a public opinion in Israel that the
Holocaust is the only fact on wiping out the nation and therefore no
other event can be compared with the Holocaust.