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ARMENIANS WERE A 'FIFTH COLUMN' AND TURKS DECIDED TO EXPEL THEM: DEBATE IN ISRAEL'S KNESSET
epress.am
12.26.2011
The Israeli parliamentary Education, Culture and Sports Committee
today was debating the issue of recognizing the Armenian Genocide of
1915 in Ottoman Turkey. Epress.am was closely following developments
that took place earlier today.
1:15 pm: Board member of the Azerbaijan-Israel International
Association Yana Salman: "Israel shouldn't recognize the genocide of
the Armenians. Armenians are using events that took place a century
ago for political purposes. I do not dispute the fact of the death
of many Armenians in the Ottoman Empire , but it was a war, and many
Armenians were the de facto 'fifth column' and so the Turks decided
to expel them from their homes."
1 pm: Georgette Avagian, representative of the Hay Dat ("Armenian
Cause") in Israel: "If Israel recognized the Armenian Genocide,
Turkey would begin to have more respect for Israel - because Israel
would prove its independence and strength. I hope that the genocide
will be recognized, so that I can be proud of my country - Israel."
12:45 pm: Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likund): "Differences between
Ankara and Yerevan shouldn't erase historical facts, because the fact
of the massacre of the peaceful Armenian population 96 years ago cannot
be disputed. Recognition of this fact has no connection to Turkey today
- we are talking of a historical event. Despite the fact that I don't
hide my views, Turkey never thought to declare me a persona non grata."
12:30 pm: Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On: "The Armenian Genocide should be
studied in schools; the Jewish people should be the first to recognize
the tragedy of the past. I hope that recognition of the genocide will
not ruin relations with Turkey."
epress.am
12.26.2011
The Israeli parliamentary Education, Culture and Sports Committee
today was debating the issue of recognizing the Armenian Genocide of
1915 in Ottoman Turkey. Epress.am was closely following developments
that took place earlier today.
1:15 pm: Board member of the Azerbaijan-Israel International
Association Yana Salman: "Israel shouldn't recognize the genocide of
the Armenians. Armenians are using events that took place a century
ago for political purposes. I do not dispute the fact of the death
of many Armenians in the Ottoman Empire , but it was a war, and many
Armenians were the de facto 'fifth column' and so the Turks decided
to expel them from their homes."
1 pm: Georgette Avagian, representative of the Hay Dat ("Armenian
Cause") in Israel: "If Israel recognized the Armenian Genocide,
Turkey would begin to have more respect for Israel - because Israel
would prove its independence and strength. I hope that the genocide
will be recognized, so that I can be proud of my country - Israel."
12:45 pm: Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likund): "Differences between
Ankara and Yerevan shouldn't erase historical facts, because the fact
of the massacre of the peaceful Armenian population 96 years ago cannot
be disputed. Recognition of this fact has no connection to Turkey today
- we are talking of a historical event. Despite the fact that I don't
hide my views, Turkey never thought to declare me a persona non grata."
12:30 pm: Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On: "The Armenian Genocide should be
studied in schools; the Jewish people should be the first to recognize
the tragedy of the past. I hope that recognition of the genocide will
not ruin relations with Turkey."