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Avigdor Eskin : Armenia may play an important role in establishing a
dialogue between Israel and Iran
ArmInfo's Interview with Israeli political expert Avigdor Eskin
by Ashot Safaryan
Wednesday, May 8, 22:37
Mr. Eskin, one of the problematic points in the Armenian-Israeli
relations is Israel's reluctance to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
How can this stance of Tel Aviv be explained? Given even the
realpolitik principles, the relations between Israel and Turkey are
far from being good, though there may be deeper reasons for
non-recognition. Would you tell us about that?
Unfortunately, today politicians succeed in making favorable patterns
from the century-old tragedy. As for Jews and Israel, nobody in the
world did more than the Jews for publishing of the massacre of 1915.
I would like to recall several names: Mandelshtam, Morgenthau, Lemkin.
I can present the list of Jewish writers who memorized the victims of
the 1915 massacre. Unfortunately, we have not heard the words of
gratitude from the Armenians. On the contrary, slander on the Jews has
been developing among the Armenians for the last years, allegedly, the
Jews prompted Turkish authorities to commit crimes. In 2007 I visited
Yerevan and was shocked by the anti-Semitic sentiments among the
intellectuals. Afterwards I studied the issue myself:
http://avigdor-eskin.com/page.php3?page=6&item=500.
In such an atmosphere it is very much difficult to speak about a joint
stance. In case of acceptance of the Armenian option of the history,
Israel will automatically confess the bloody slander upon the Jews and
Zionist movement. Would Armenia recognize the Holocaust if our books
said that Hitler and his surrounding were Armenians and that the
Germans killed the Jews at the instigation of the Armenians? If the
matter concerns recognition or non-recognition, Yerevan does not
recognize Jerusalem and Golan Heights within Israel. But we are not
resentful people.
Experts say that close cooperation between Yerevan and Tehran on the
one hand and the active interaction between Tel Aviv and Baku on the
other hand hinder the rapprochement of Armenia and Israel. How
reasonable is that opinion? Is it possible to find a common ground to
resist the common challenges in this volatile region?
Today the key ally of Armenia is Iran. This affects our relations. The
matter concerns the regime in Iran, which declares that the goal of
its existence is to destroy us. Nevertheless, if both parties display
a good will, it will be possible to find the ways of rapprochement.
Ahmadinejad is quitting the stage and the real interests of Israel and
Iran are getting closer. The Arab spring, the aggression policy of
Qatar and its neighbors, the war in Syria should sober the real
strategists in Tehran. Before 1978 Israel and Iran were close partners
and today they can return to those relations in case both parties
display a good will. In this context Armenia may play an important
role given its close contacts with Tehran. The Armenian Government and
your news agency could invite some respectable ayatollahs from Iran
and authoritative rabbis from Israel to launch a dialogue on the basis
of traditionalism. Such a step could bring benefits to Armenia.
Ze'ev Elkin, who has repeatedly come out with pro-Armenian initiatives
in Israel, has become deputy foreign minister of Israel. Do you think
this circumstance will introduce new realities in the relations
between our countries?
Ze'ev Elkin has headed the Armenian lobby in Israel for many years. He
is a respectable and influential politician. However, his influence in
this matter is restricted now because of his post. The relations
between our countries may improve on the basis I have suggested. If
Yerevan initiates contacts between Israel and Iran on the level of
NGOs and then expands them, it will be possible to raise the relations
to a new level.
How much probable is the military operation of the USA and Israel against Iran?
The American blow on Iran is not taken seriously now. And it is very
good. I think one should not turn the crisis with Iran into a global
problem. As for Israel, we will not allow those who openly advocate
out destruction to take nuclear weapon. Israel can cope with this
problem independently. I think we should have done it a year ago.
What is Israel's stance on the crisis in Syria? Doesn't another
trouble spot near the borders of Israel threaten the Jewish state?
What measures is Tel Aviv taking to resolve the situation?
The situation is critical in Syria. Twofold more Arabs died in Syria
for the two years of the civil war than for 65 years of the conflict
with Israel. In terms of Syria, the whole world may understand what
neighbours we have. Israel preserves absolute neutrality in the
conflict in Syria because of several reasons. However, the people of
Israel are more gunning for Assad. Israel has common interests with
Iran. Although military leadership of Israel is on the alert and is
ready to any provocation at the northern border, nevertheless, there
is no true threat to Israel. At present, our military privilege is so
much obvious that there is no ground for a serious alarm. I should
also add that the "Arab spring" along with shale revolution in the USA
and Europe will bring back the Arab countries to the middle centuries.
As for Israel, it should be more reserved and remain unprovoked at the
period of maximal turbulence in the neighboring countries.
Turkey's curtseys towards the Arab world have led to serious
deterioration of relations with Israel. What problem do you think
Ankara was solving when starting a conflict with the stable and
powerful ally in the region?
The relations between Israel and Turkey have always been
double-natured. On the one hand, our rapprochement is natural since
both countries belong to the non-Arab minority in the Middle East. On
the other hand, Turkey's negative attitude towards the Zionist
movement and Israel has its serious roots. One can state that today
the Turkish elite has the most negative attitude towards Israel. We
observe it among both Islamists and nationalists dreaming of Great
Turan. But we observe the opposite tendency among the people. This
also concerns the intermediate officers. However, the people's good
attitude has no impact on the country's policy yet. Moreover, no
serious breakthrough is expected given Ankara's stance on Syria and
the Gaza Strip. We also see how the revanchist sentiments are growing
in Turkey. Israel inevitably becomes a competitor for Turkey and a
restraining force. The forecasts for the future of our relations are
rather pessimistic.
Despite the problems between Israel and Turkey, the relations with
Armenia may become better, as the stance of Israel on the issues,
which Armenia is interested in, is not dictated by Ankara. The present
crisis in our relations may be overcome if one gives up falsehood,
envy and groundless hatred. If the dialogue is built on such a basis,
it will result in understanding of the deep and ancient roots of our
existence.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=6040D250-B80E-11E2-B05CF6327207157C
dialogue between Israel and Iran
ArmInfo's Interview with Israeli political expert Avigdor Eskin
by Ashot Safaryan
Wednesday, May 8, 22:37
Mr. Eskin, one of the problematic points in the Armenian-Israeli
relations is Israel's reluctance to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
How can this stance of Tel Aviv be explained? Given even the
realpolitik principles, the relations between Israel and Turkey are
far from being good, though there may be deeper reasons for
non-recognition. Would you tell us about that?
Unfortunately, today politicians succeed in making favorable patterns
from the century-old tragedy. As for Jews and Israel, nobody in the
world did more than the Jews for publishing of the massacre of 1915.
I would like to recall several names: Mandelshtam, Morgenthau, Lemkin.
I can present the list of Jewish writers who memorized the victims of
the 1915 massacre. Unfortunately, we have not heard the words of
gratitude from the Armenians. On the contrary, slander on the Jews has
been developing among the Armenians for the last years, allegedly, the
Jews prompted Turkish authorities to commit crimes. In 2007 I visited
Yerevan and was shocked by the anti-Semitic sentiments among the
intellectuals. Afterwards I studied the issue myself:
http://avigdor-eskin.com/page.php3?page=6&item=500.
In such an atmosphere it is very much difficult to speak about a joint
stance. In case of acceptance of the Armenian option of the history,
Israel will automatically confess the bloody slander upon the Jews and
Zionist movement. Would Armenia recognize the Holocaust if our books
said that Hitler and his surrounding were Armenians and that the
Germans killed the Jews at the instigation of the Armenians? If the
matter concerns recognition or non-recognition, Yerevan does not
recognize Jerusalem and Golan Heights within Israel. But we are not
resentful people.
Experts say that close cooperation between Yerevan and Tehran on the
one hand and the active interaction between Tel Aviv and Baku on the
other hand hinder the rapprochement of Armenia and Israel. How
reasonable is that opinion? Is it possible to find a common ground to
resist the common challenges in this volatile region?
Today the key ally of Armenia is Iran. This affects our relations. The
matter concerns the regime in Iran, which declares that the goal of
its existence is to destroy us. Nevertheless, if both parties display
a good will, it will be possible to find the ways of rapprochement.
Ahmadinejad is quitting the stage and the real interests of Israel and
Iran are getting closer. The Arab spring, the aggression policy of
Qatar and its neighbors, the war in Syria should sober the real
strategists in Tehran. Before 1978 Israel and Iran were close partners
and today they can return to those relations in case both parties
display a good will. In this context Armenia may play an important
role given its close contacts with Tehran. The Armenian Government and
your news agency could invite some respectable ayatollahs from Iran
and authoritative rabbis from Israel to launch a dialogue on the basis
of traditionalism. Such a step could bring benefits to Armenia.
Ze'ev Elkin, who has repeatedly come out with pro-Armenian initiatives
in Israel, has become deputy foreign minister of Israel. Do you think
this circumstance will introduce new realities in the relations
between our countries?
Ze'ev Elkin has headed the Armenian lobby in Israel for many years. He
is a respectable and influential politician. However, his influence in
this matter is restricted now because of his post. The relations
between our countries may improve on the basis I have suggested. If
Yerevan initiates contacts between Israel and Iran on the level of
NGOs and then expands them, it will be possible to raise the relations
to a new level.
How much probable is the military operation of the USA and Israel against Iran?
The American blow on Iran is not taken seriously now. And it is very
good. I think one should not turn the crisis with Iran into a global
problem. As for Israel, we will not allow those who openly advocate
out destruction to take nuclear weapon. Israel can cope with this
problem independently. I think we should have done it a year ago.
What is Israel's stance on the crisis in Syria? Doesn't another
trouble spot near the borders of Israel threaten the Jewish state?
What measures is Tel Aviv taking to resolve the situation?
The situation is critical in Syria. Twofold more Arabs died in Syria
for the two years of the civil war than for 65 years of the conflict
with Israel. In terms of Syria, the whole world may understand what
neighbours we have. Israel preserves absolute neutrality in the
conflict in Syria because of several reasons. However, the people of
Israel are more gunning for Assad. Israel has common interests with
Iran. Although military leadership of Israel is on the alert and is
ready to any provocation at the northern border, nevertheless, there
is no true threat to Israel. At present, our military privilege is so
much obvious that there is no ground for a serious alarm. I should
also add that the "Arab spring" along with shale revolution in the USA
and Europe will bring back the Arab countries to the middle centuries.
As for Israel, it should be more reserved and remain unprovoked at the
period of maximal turbulence in the neighboring countries.
Turkey's curtseys towards the Arab world have led to serious
deterioration of relations with Israel. What problem do you think
Ankara was solving when starting a conflict with the stable and
powerful ally in the region?
The relations between Israel and Turkey have always been
double-natured. On the one hand, our rapprochement is natural since
both countries belong to the non-Arab minority in the Middle East. On
the other hand, Turkey's negative attitude towards the Zionist
movement and Israel has its serious roots. One can state that today
the Turkish elite has the most negative attitude towards Israel. We
observe it among both Islamists and nationalists dreaming of Great
Turan. But we observe the opposite tendency among the people. This
also concerns the intermediate officers. However, the people's good
attitude has no impact on the country's policy yet. Moreover, no
serious breakthrough is expected given Ankara's stance on Syria and
the Gaza Strip. We also see how the revanchist sentiments are growing
in Turkey. Israel inevitably becomes a competitor for Turkey and a
restraining force. The forecasts for the future of our relations are
rather pessimistic.
Despite the problems between Israel and Turkey, the relations with
Armenia may become better, as the stance of Israel on the issues,
which Armenia is interested in, is not dictated by Ankara. The present
crisis in our relations may be overcome if one gives up falsehood,
envy and groundless hatred. If the dialogue is built on such a basis,
it will result in understanding of the deep and ancient roots of our
existence.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=6040D250-B80E-11E2-B05CF6327207157C