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RIVLIN: WE CANNOT IGNORE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Elad Benari
Arutz Sheva
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/156818#.T9jikheVPp8
June 13 2012
Israel
Knesset holds special discussion on the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Rivlin: This is not an accusation at the current Turkish government.
The Knesset held a special discussion on Tuesday regarding the 1915
Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian Genocide, also called the Armenian Massacres or the Great
Crime, was the planned and systematic destruction of the Armenian
population of the Ottoman Empire around the time of World War I
through massacres and forced marches.
Between 1 and 1.5 million Armenians died during this period, but
Turkey refuses to use the word genocide for the tragedy perpetrated
on the Armenian minority. A previous discussion on the issue by the
Knesset's Education Committee, initiated by MKs Aryeh Eldad (National
Union) and Zehava Galon (Meretz), was postponed.
In his opening remarks at Tuesday's discussion, Knesset Speaker Reuven
Rivlin said that the Armenian Genocide cannot be ignored.
"In the Land of Israel of 1915, people did not deny the Armenian
Genocide," he said. "Jerusalem residents saw Armenians arriving in the
thousands, starving. The evidence of the massacre was clear and sharp.
"The Jews then asked themselves two questions: Who's next, and will we
shed tears over the Armenians? We were next in line, but did not even
know it at that time, nor could we have guessed it. Whoever conceived
the Final Solution for Jews was impressed by the fact that, one day,
the world will say nothing about it, the same way it was silent over
the murder of the Armenians," added Rivlin.
Some have suggested that it would be in Israel's interests to avoid
recognizing the Armenian Genocide or even discussing it, in the wake
of the strained relations between Turkey and Israel. Referring to
this issue, Rivlin said, "It is our moral duty to remember and remind
of the tragedy that befell the Armenian people, who lost more than a
million of its sons during the First World War, and we must not make
this a political issue. I am aware of the sensitivity of this issue.
But let us be clear: This is not an accusation of Turkey today or of
the current Turkish government."
Rivlin added, "It is because of the fact that the citizens of the
State of Israel have heard many outright denials of the horror that
befell us, that I think it is inconceivable that the Knesset will
ignore this tragedy, of which there are historical and solid facts. We
find it hard to forgive others for their disregard of our tragedy,
and we must not ignore other people's tragedies. It is our moral
obligation as human beings and as Jews."
MK Eldad told Arutz Sheva in December that the chill in relations
between Jerusalem and Ankara is the perfect opportunity to recognize
the Armenian Genocide.
"A genocide against the Armenian people was conducted in Ottoman
Turkey during the first world war," he said. "This is a historical
fact that cannot be denied and should not be denied.
"The fact that for many years Israel avoided any declaration on this
issue because we have very sensitive diplomatic relations with Turkey
should not affect our decisions [in the present]," Eldad said.
The Armenian issue has been a sensitive one for the Turkish government
for many years. When France ratified a bill in parliament which
stipulated that denying the Armenian Genocide would be punishable by
a jail sentence of up to one year and a 45,000 euro fine, a furious
Turkey responded by canceling all political, economic and military
meetings between representatives of Turkey and France.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also forbade French
aircraft from landing in Turkey and said French ships were no longer
welcome in Turkey's ports.
By Elad Benari
Arutz Sheva
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/156818#.T9jikheVPp8
June 13 2012
Israel
Knesset holds special discussion on the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Rivlin: This is not an accusation at the current Turkish government.
The Knesset held a special discussion on Tuesday regarding the 1915
Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian Genocide, also called the Armenian Massacres or the Great
Crime, was the planned and systematic destruction of the Armenian
population of the Ottoman Empire around the time of World War I
through massacres and forced marches.
Between 1 and 1.5 million Armenians died during this period, but
Turkey refuses to use the word genocide for the tragedy perpetrated
on the Armenian minority. A previous discussion on the issue by the
Knesset's Education Committee, initiated by MKs Aryeh Eldad (National
Union) and Zehava Galon (Meretz), was postponed.
In his opening remarks at Tuesday's discussion, Knesset Speaker Reuven
Rivlin said that the Armenian Genocide cannot be ignored.
"In the Land of Israel of 1915, people did not deny the Armenian
Genocide," he said. "Jerusalem residents saw Armenians arriving in the
thousands, starving. The evidence of the massacre was clear and sharp.
"The Jews then asked themselves two questions: Who's next, and will we
shed tears over the Armenians? We were next in line, but did not even
know it at that time, nor could we have guessed it. Whoever conceived
the Final Solution for Jews was impressed by the fact that, one day,
the world will say nothing about it, the same way it was silent over
the murder of the Armenians," added Rivlin.
Some have suggested that it would be in Israel's interests to avoid
recognizing the Armenian Genocide or even discussing it, in the wake
of the strained relations between Turkey and Israel. Referring to
this issue, Rivlin said, "It is our moral duty to remember and remind
of the tragedy that befell the Armenian people, who lost more than a
million of its sons during the First World War, and we must not make
this a political issue. I am aware of the sensitivity of this issue.
But let us be clear: This is not an accusation of Turkey today or of
the current Turkish government."
Rivlin added, "It is because of the fact that the citizens of the
State of Israel have heard many outright denials of the horror that
befell us, that I think it is inconceivable that the Knesset will
ignore this tragedy, of which there are historical and solid facts. We
find it hard to forgive others for their disregard of our tragedy,
and we must not ignore other people's tragedies. It is our moral
obligation as human beings and as Jews."
MK Eldad told Arutz Sheva in December that the chill in relations
between Jerusalem and Ankara is the perfect opportunity to recognize
the Armenian Genocide.
"A genocide against the Armenian people was conducted in Ottoman
Turkey during the first world war," he said. "This is a historical
fact that cannot be denied and should not be denied.
"The fact that for many years Israel avoided any declaration on this
issue because we have very sensitive diplomatic relations with Turkey
should not affect our decisions [in the present]," Eldad said.
The Armenian issue has been a sensitive one for the Turkish government
for many years. When France ratified a bill in parliament which
stipulated that denying the Armenian Genocide would be punishable by
a jail sentence of up to one year and a 45,000 euro fine, a furious
Turkey responded by canceling all political, economic and military
meetings between representatives of Turkey and France.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also forbade French
aircraft from landing in Turkey and said French ships were no longer
welcome in Turkey's ports.