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Knesset to mark Armenian genocide, day before release of Gaza flotilla
report Recognition of Armenian genocide perpetrated by Turkey comes
alongside Turkish lawsuit against senior Israeli officials involved in IDF
raid on the Gaza-bound ship, the Mavi Marmara.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/knesset-to-mark-armenian-genocide-day-before-release-of-gaza-flotilla-report-1.435488
By Jonathan Lis
Jun.10,2012 | 3:23 PM | 1
[image: Protesters in Istanbul - AP - June 2012]
Protesters commemorating the second anniversary of the Mavi Marmara
incident in Istanbul. Photo by AP
On the eve of the publication of the State Comptroller's report regarding
the 2009 raid on an aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip, the Knesset is
expected to hold a public discussion about the genocide of the Armenian
people, at the request of MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz).
Knesset chairperson Reuven Rivlin decided to permit the debate for Tuesday.
The decision follows the Turkish decision to try senior Israeli officials
in court for their involvement in the IDF raid on the Gaza-bound ship the
Mavi Marmara - the debate will be held just one day before the publication
of the State Comptroller's report on the affair on Wednesday.
The Knesset will mark the anniversary of the genocide with its first
discussion of the matter on Tuesday, and a second public discussion will be
planned, to be held by one of the Knesset committees.
Throughout the years, the government and the Knesset have refrained from
discussing the subject in fear of harming relations between Israel and
Turkey.
Over the last three years, determination has developed to discuss the
murder of roughly one and a half
millionArmenians
by Turkey 97 years ago, mostly because of the deteriorating
relations between Israel and Turkey.
This is not the first time the Knesset has mentioned the subject. Last
December, the Knesset Education Committee held an open discussion of the
matter, the first of its kind. A representative of the Foreign Ministry
relayed the ministry's position. "This subject, given the current
atmosphere, could deteriorate our ties with Turkey. Our relationship with
Turkey is very fragile and sensitive right now, and we cannot cross the
line - we must approach the subject intelligently. Such a decision could
have very serious strategic consequences," said the representative.
Rivlin also commented during the discussion in December. "The subject
doesn't come up in the Knesset because of events that take place between
Israel and Turkey, nor because we are trying to take advantage of the
political situation to get even. I first entered the Knesset in '88, and a
year later we made a suggestion for a day concerning the Armenian tragedy.
We were prevented from speaking about it as a 'holocaust,' though we most
definitely felt that as humans, as Jews, as citizens of Israel that aren't
Jews, we must bring this subject up, and flood the public with the
questions that arise, because we are obligated to prevent denial of the
tragedy,' said Rivlin.
`We are standing in front of all the peoples of the world, and saying that
denial of a holocaust is something that Humanity cannot agree with. We
didn't come to discuss something political, rather moral,' continued
Rivlin.
MK and Meretz chairperson Zahava Gal-On, who initiated the discussion set
to take place, said then, "this is an exciting moment, in my opinion, that
the Education Committee is holding an open discussion, with a great
dealof
participation. For years, Israel always considered relations with
Turkey. That is the central issue in terms of recognition of the murder of
the Armenian people, which has yet to take place in Israel's Knesset.'
`Unfortunately, relations with Turkey are very tense, and I think that it
is in our interest not to make them worse. Israel's government must advance
relations regardless of the Armenian issue; it is a historic and moral
obligation,' said Gal-On.
Kadima MK Otniel Schneller, also among the upcoming discussion's sponsors,
was the only one who expressed outright opposition to an official
recognition by Israel of the Armenian genocide in December. "We cannot
disconnect the discussion from the fact that we must rehabilitate our ties
with Turkey - it's an existential necessity," he said. "We need to fit in
the Middle East even if it is difficult,' said Schneller, in December.
From: A. Papazian
report Recognition of Armenian genocide perpetrated by Turkey comes
alongside Turkish lawsuit against senior Israeli officials involved in IDF
raid on the Gaza-bound ship, the Mavi Marmara.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/knesset-to-mark-armenian-genocide-day-before-release-of-gaza-flotilla-report-1.435488
By Jonathan Lis
Jun.10,2012 | 3:23 PM | 1
[image: Protesters in Istanbul - AP - June 2012]
Protesters commemorating the second anniversary of the Mavi Marmara
incident in Istanbul. Photo by AP
On the eve of the publication of the State Comptroller's report regarding
the 2009 raid on an aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip, the Knesset is
expected to hold a public discussion about the genocide of the Armenian
people, at the request of MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz).
Knesset chairperson Reuven Rivlin decided to permit the debate for Tuesday.
The decision follows the Turkish decision to try senior Israeli officials
in court for their involvement in the IDF raid on the Gaza-bound ship the
Mavi Marmara - the debate will be held just one day before the publication
of the State Comptroller's report on the affair on Wednesday.
The Knesset will mark the anniversary of the genocide with its first
discussion of the matter on Tuesday, and a second public discussion will be
planned, to be held by one of the Knesset committees.
Throughout the years, the government and the Knesset have refrained from
discussing the subject in fear of harming relations between Israel and
Turkey.
Over the last three years, determination has developed to discuss the
murder of roughly one and a half
millionArmenians
by Turkey 97 years ago, mostly because of the deteriorating
relations between Israel and Turkey.
This is not the first time the Knesset has mentioned the subject. Last
December, the Knesset Education Committee held an open discussion of the
matter, the first of its kind. A representative of the Foreign Ministry
relayed the ministry's position. "This subject, given the current
atmosphere, could deteriorate our ties with Turkey. Our relationship with
Turkey is very fragile and sensitive right now, and we cannot cross the
line - we must approach the subject intelligently. Such a decision could
have very serious strategic consequences," said the representative.
Rivlin also commented during the discussion in December. "The subject
doesn't come up in the Knesset because of events that take place between
Israel and Turkey, nor because we are trying to take advantage of the
political situation to get even. I first entered the Knesset in '88, and a
year later we made a suggestion for a day concerning the Armenian tragedy.
We were prevented from speaking about it as a 'holocaust,' though we most
definitely felt that as humans, as Jews, as citizens of Israel that aren't
Jews, we must bring this subject up, and flood the public with the
questions that arise, because we are obligated to prevent denial of the
tragedy,' said Rivlin.
`We are standing in front of all the peoples of the world, and saying that
denial of a holocaust is something that Humanity cannot agree with. We
didn't come to discuss something political, rather moral,' continued
Rivlin.
MK and Meretz chairperson Zahava Gal-On, who initiated the discussion set
to take place, said then, "this is an exciting moment, in my opinion, that
the Education Committee is holding an open discussion, with a great
dealof
participation. For years, Israel always considered relations with
Turkey. That is the central issue in terms of recognition of the murder of
the Armenian people, which has yet to take place in Israel's Knesset.'
`Unfortunately, relations with Turkey are very tense, and I think that it
is in our interest not to make them worse. Israel's government must advance
relations regardless of the Armenian issue; it is a historic and moral
obligation,' said Gal-On.
Kadima MK Otniel Schneller, also among the upcoming discussion's sponsors,
was the only one who expressed outright opposition to an official
recognition by Israel of the Armenian genocide in December. "We cannot
disconnect the discussion from the fact that we must rehabilitate our ties
with Turkey - it's an existential necessity," he said. "We need to fit in
the Middle East even if it is difficult,' said Schneller, in December.
From: A. Papazian