ISRAELI KNESSET VOTES TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
li-knesset-votes-to-discuss-armenian-genocide/
May 7, 2009
JERUSALEM-On May 5, the Israeli Knesset voted unanimously to hold a
discussion on the Armenian Genocide. In an unprecedented 39 to 0 vote,
the Israeli parliament decided to open discussion on a resolution
put forward by Meretz leader Chaim Auron (sometimes transliterated
as Oron), proposing that Israel officially recognize the Turkish
genocide of Armenians during World War I.
Ynetnews.com reported Chaim Auron as saying, "It is our duty to the
Armenian people and to ourselves. There are those who say we should
leave it to historians to determine whether it was genocide. There
are Holocaust deniers who say exactly the same thing. They rely on
alleged historical sources and say there are doubts regarding the
numbers and figures of the Holocaust. Who else knows like we do that
there are some things you must fight for.
Exactly one year ago this motion moved to the Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee’s table, and there it was buried. I propose that
the Education Committee conduct a procedural discussion on it."
Gilad Erdan, Minister for Environmental Protection, represented the
government’s position to the motion by stating, "I agree that it is
our moral obligation. We have a moral duty to remember the killing of
Armenians." He then read out the government’s response, which objects
to commemorating the Genocide in the Knesset.
"Israel has never denied the terrible acts carried out against the
Armenians, and I am well aware of the intensity of the emotions given
the number of victims and the suffering of the Armenian people,"
Erdan stated.
"However, the study of the events must be done through open discussion,
and backed by the historical data, not a political debate in the
Knesset. Because of our understanding of the pain and suffering,
and so that Israel does not become a side that deals with this from
a purely political place, I ask that we take this issue off the
Knesset’s agenda."
Zoryan Institute board member and brother of the Meretz leader,
Yair Auron, said, "This is a very significant development, in that
there has never been so much open support in the Knesset for the
Armenian Genocide. Even if the Government succeeds in killing this
particular resolution, there is clearly an increasing awareness
of the Armenian Genocide in Israel, and increasing support for its
official recognition."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
