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ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DEBATE COMPLETES AT KNESSET
PanARMENIAN.Net
December 26, 2011 - 16:20 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Knesset members from all sides of the political
spectrum called for the government to officially recognize the Armenian
Genocide, marking the first time the issue was discussed in an open
Knesset meeting.
The Knesset Education Committee meeting was initiated after MK Arye
Eldad (National Union) proposed a bill to mark the Armenian Genocide
annually, which was then turned into a motion for the agenda after
Eldad realized the coalition would not allow the legislation to pass.
The meeting also addressed a similar motion put forward by MK Zehava
Gal-On (Meretz), making Armenian Genocide one of the few topics agreed
upon by the Knesset factions farthest to the political left and right.
The discussion took place a week after France's lower house of
parliament moved to criminalize Armenian Genocide denial, leading to
a diplomatic crisis between Paris and Ankara.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said that those who fight Holocaust
denial must not ignore the tragedies of other nations, and it is a
moral imperative that Israel remember the Armenian Genocide.
Gal-On said the meeting was an "exciting moment," bringing to fruition
the efforts of many former and current Meretz MKs over the years.
She called for government ministries to stop using the Armenian
Genocide as a tool in Israeli foreign policy. Although Gal-On said that
Israel must not allow "tense" relations with Turkey to deteriorate, she
added that relations with Turkey should be separate from this issue.
Coalition chairman Ze'ev Elkin (Likud) said that he is embarrassed
that the Knesset has yet to fulfil its "basic responsibility" in
recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
He said "a wall has been broken" in that the Education Committee
discussion was taking place openly, but that progress still needs to
be made.
Elkin also mentioned that in 1939, Hitler cited the fact that Europe
ignored the Armenian Genocide to justify his actions.
No vote took place at the end of the meeting, and Knesset Education
Committee chairman Alex Miller (Israel Beiteinu) said that more open
discussions of the Armenian Genocide will take place, JPost reported.
PanARMENIAN.Net
December 26, 2011 - 16:20 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Knesset members from all sides of the political
spectrum called for the government to officially recognize the Armenian
Genocide, marking the first time the issue was discussed in an open
Knesset meeting.
The Knesset Education Committee meeting was initiated after MK Arye
Eldad (National Union) proposed a bill to mark the Armenian Genocide
annually, which was then turned into a motion for the agenda after
Eldad realized the coalition would not allow the legislation to pass.
The meeting also addressed a similar motion put forward by MK Zehava
Gal-On (Meretz), making Armenian Genocide one of the few topics agreed
upon by the Knesset factions farthest to the political left and right.
The discussion took place a week after France's lower house of
parliament moved to criminalize Armenian Genocide denial, leading to
a diplomatic crisis between Paris and Ankara.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said that those who fight Holocaust
denial must not ignore the tragedies of other nations, and it is a
moral imperative that Israel remember the Armenian Genocide.
Gal-On said the meeting was an "exciting moment," bringing to fruition
the efforts of many former and current Meretz MKs over the years.
She called for government ministries to stop using the Armenian
Genocide as a tool in Israeli foreign policy. Although Gal-On said that
Israel must not allow "tense" relations with Turkey to deteriorate, she
added that relations with Turkey should be separate from this issue.
Coalition chairman Ze'ev Elkin (Likud) said that he is embarrassed
that the Knesset has yet to fulfil its "basic responsibility" in
recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
He said "a wall has been broken" in that the Education Committee
discussion was taking place openly, but that progress still needs to
be made.
Elkin also mentioned that in 1939, Hitler cited the fact that Europe
ignored the Armenian Genocide to justify his actions.
No vote took place at the end of the meeting, and Knesset Education
Committee chairman Alex Miller (Israel Beiteinu) said that more open
discussions of the Armenian Genocide will take place, JPost reported.