Israel and the Genocide
This article (Via Azad-Hye.com) from Knesset member Yossi Sarid goes to the heart of paradox that has long irked me, namely Israel’s denial of the Armenian Genocide.
As opposed to many other nations, Israel has never recognized the murder of the Armenian people, and in effect lent a hand to the deniers of that genocide. Our official reactions moved in the vague, illusory realm between denial to evasion, from “it’s not clear there really was genocide” to “it’s an issue for the historians,” as Shimon Peres once put it so outrageously and stupidly.
Yossi Sarid will be in Yerevan on April 24th, invited by the Armenian government.
Read the full article.
As the article points out, there are political and military ties between Israel and Turkey (and actually, between both and the US). Genocide recognition is pretty much decided in the political rather realm. Another paradox, of course, is how some (but hopefully not all) Armenians deny the Holocaust.
Comment by Onnik — 3/31/2005 @ 4:49 pm
Let everybody talk as he pleases… By not recognizing
the fact of the Genocide does not mean the Genocide did not happen. They want to be “UNIQUE”…in every way. Just KEEP WORKING ON THE “YERGATE SHEREP”… The ONLY hope the ONLY way the ONLY method creatures called “Humans” understand. And for the Turks. Occupying a historic land like Armenia, is something. Massacring a nation is somthing else, keeping the WILSONIAN ARMENIA in their throat without chocking,
is totally different issue. The more they deny the more it will be talked about.
Comment by ARSHAK — 4/1/2005 @ 11:14 am
The Armenian government should ask the Israeli govn’t to recall its ambassador until the Knesset recognises the Armenian Genocide.
Onnik, the Armenian “denial” of the Jewish Holocaust is a recent phenomenon that arose due to constant denials by Israeli politicians (none less than Shimon Peres) of the Armenian Genocide. Moreover, the majority of Jews deny it too. The powerful Jewish (not Israeli) lobby in USA is one of (but not the only) the reasons the Genocide has not been recognised by USA. The argument that Armenians deny the Jewish Holocaust is an attempt to divert the attention from the real issue, which is the denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Jews and by extension the Israelis (since the latter is a subset of the former). Let them recognise the Armenian Genocide and we will see how many Armenians will deny theirs. The phenomenon of denial of the Jewish Holocaust might not be justifiable, but it is a valid reaction to the double standard treatment demanded by Jews and Israelis.
Comment by Dan Marsden — 4/2/2005 @ 4:48 am
I have to highly disagree with Dan Marsden on both factual merit and opinions. Most Jews and Israelis alike, regardless of any prior Government position, believe the Armenian Genocide occured. To assume that Jews would spend even an ounce of energy lobbying Washington to continue denying it’s existence is propostorous and completely fabricated. It was in 2004 that Israel’s education Minister stated his agenda to ensure Israeli textbooks include the events. Israel’s ties with Turkey would be the only reason for Israel’s inability to acknowledge the Genocide, but I will agree that this is not a valid excuse. However, don’t forget that Holocaust denial has existed for many years in many countries, it would be extrememly stupid to assume that this is purely out of spite for Israel’s unwillingness to recognize the Armenian genocide. I have never in my life heard a Jew have anything but sympathy for the Armenian people in their struggle (I have never heard Jewish denial of it). In fact, it was the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey in 1915 (a Jew) who was the first to demand inquiries into Turkey’s actions and gave rise to the Armenian cause.
Comment by L. S. — 7/17/2006 @ 1:43 am