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Cyprus Mail
Dec 28 2011
Our View: Why the new-found interest in the human rights of others?
THE ISRAELI Knesset's Education and Culture Committee on Monday held a
three-hour discussion on the Armenian genocide by the Ottomans, the
first-ever public hearing on the issue, which was attended by
government officials and representatives of both the Turkish and
Armenian communities.
Although no resolution was passed and the session took place despite
the Israeli government's opposition to the motion, members of the
Knesset expressed a "moral and historical obligation" to support
recognition of the genocide.
The Armenian genocide - in which 1.5 million died - happened in 1915
and Israel has been a state since 1948 so it is legitimate to ask why
now, and whether anything will come of this new-found concern for the
human rights of others?
For years it has been Israel's policy to not only to refuse to
recognise the Armenian genocide but to go out of its way to oppose its
recognition by other countries. Most recently influential Jewish
organisations in the US worked actively with Turkey to block
recognition of the genocide by Congress. Where was the Knesset's
"moral and historical obligation" then?
Could the new-found concern for the suffering of the early 20th
century Armenians have anything to do with Israel's deteriorating
relations with Ankara? The answer is that it has everything to do with
that and very little, if anything at all, to do with solidarity to a
race of people who suffered a similar fate to Europe's Jews.
The Knesset's move can only be described as a cynical political move
to beat Turkey with the proverbial diplomatic stick, especially in the
wake of France's decision to have denial of the Armenian genocide
declared a criminal offence.
Neither will Monday's session accomplish anything. The Israeli
government has made it clear that although it is currently at odds
with Turkey, it would like to keep the door open for future
restoration of ties with its former military ally. Recognising the
Armenian genocide would likely be the last nail in the coffin, and not
something Tel Aviv is likely to risk in the long term.
Of all the countries in the world that have recognised the Armenian
genocide, Israel should have been among the first to do so. Gassings,
cattle cars, concentration camps and death marches, for which there is
credible historical evidence stemming from the Armenian genocide, are
words that should invoke solidarity among Jewish people.
Instead the fate of 1.5 million Armenians has been ignored in Israel
as if it never happened. Therefore from a moral and historical
perspective, the Knesset discussion is too little too late, and truly
meaningless because it was done for all the wrong reasons.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/armenian-genocide/our-view-why-new-found-interest-human-rights-others/20111228
Dec 28 2011
Our View: Why the new-found interest in the human rights of others?
THE ISRAELI Knesset's Education and Culture Committee on Monday held a
three-hour discussion on the Armenian genocide by the Ottomans, the
first-ever public hearing on the issue, which was attended by
government officials and representatives of both the Turkish and
Armenian communities.
Although no resolution was passed and the session took place despite
the Israeli government's opposition to the motion, members of the
Knesset expressed a "moral and historical obligation" to support
recognition of the genocide.
The Armenian genocide - in which 1.5 million died - happened in 1915
and Israel has been a state since 1948 so it is legitimate to ask why
now, and whether anything will come of this new-found concern for the
human rights of others?
For years it has been Israel's policy to not only to refuse to
recognise the Armenian genocide but to go out of its way to oppose its
recognition by other countries. Most recently influential Jewish
organisations in the US worked actively with Turkey to block
recognition of the genocide by Congress. Where was the Knesset's
"moral and historical obligation" then?
Could the new-found concern for the suffering of the early 20th
century Armenians have anything to do with Israel's deteriorating
relations with Ankara? The answer is that it has everything to do with
that and very little, if anything at all, to do with solidarity to a
race of people who suffered a similar fate to Europe's Jews.
The Knesset's move can only be described as a cynical political move
to beat Turkey with the proverbial diplomatic stick, especially in the
wake of France's decision to have denial of the Armenian genocide
declared a criminal offence.
Neither will Monday's session accomplish anything. The Israeli
government has made it clear that although it is currently at odds
with Turkey, it would like to keep the door open for future
restoration of ties with its former military ally. Recognising the
Armenian genocide would likely be the last nail in the coffin, and not
something Tel Aviv is likely to risk in the long term.
Of all the countries in the world that have recognised the Armenian
genocide, Israel should have been among the first to do so. Gassings,
cattle cars, concentration camps and death marches, for which there is
credible historical evidence stemming from the Armenian genocide, are
words that should invoke solidarity among Jewish people.
Instead the fate of 1.5 million Armenians has been ignored in Israel
as if it never happened. Therefore from a moral and historical
perspective, the Knesset discussion is too little too late, and truly
meaningless because it was done for all the wrong reasons.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/armenian-genocide/our-view-why-new-found-interest-human-rights-others/20111228