In recent days, a number of legislators across the globe under the worrying influence of Armenian lobbyists have called for the international community to recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is ruled by a puppet regime of Armenia and that has been illegally occupied in violation of four UN Security Council Resolutions for the past few decades.
In the early 1990's, Armenia illegally seized the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts belonging to Azerbaijan in a military campaign that utilized brutal ethnic cleansing and was followed by the Khojaly massacre. Up to one million Azerbaijani citizens became internally displaced persons, as 20% of Azerbaijani territory became occupied.
As Israeli citizens, it is pivotal that we do not recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh, and we should support Azerbaijan's right to territorial integrity.
The Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh has an uncanny resemblance to our conflict with the Palestinians. Article 15 and 16 of the League of Nations Mandate engrained Israel's legal right to Judea and Samaria into international law, a fact that was confirmed by Article 80 of the UN Charter. Similarly, UN Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 888 ingrained Azerbaijan's legal claims to the Nagorno-Karabakh region into international law.
However, the Armenians presently make up the majority in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, just like the Palestinians presently make up the majority in Judea and Samaria. Thus, if the Armenians are permitted to unilaterally declare a state in Nagorno-Karabakh in violation of four UN Security Council resolutions, it could pave the way for the Palestinians being able to do the same.
For this reason, it is an Israeli interest that Nagorno-Karabakh never receives international recognition, especially given the fact that Iran has taken a stance against Azerbaijan due to their positive relationship with Israel. An Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added: "Israel utilizes Azerbaijan to wage intelligence missions in Iran. Azerbaijan is also a strategic ally of Israel. Therefore, it is important that Azerbaijan not be weakened by a war with Armenia."
In an exclusive interview, former Israeli Communications Minister Ayoob Kara, who presently heads the Center for Economic Peace, offered to mediate between both sides in order to find a solution that avoids bloodshed while upholding international law: "I have a good relationship with both Azerbaijan and Armenia. For many years, I was in the government and now head the Center for Economic Peace. I already dispatched a member of my center, Alexander Shapiro, to try and find a solution to stop the violence."
"They must negotiate and make peace," he added. "I propose to help both sides if they need anything. They must make a decision, like we made in Southern Lebanon." In 2000, Israel withdrew from Southern Lebanon in the hopes that it would eventually lead to a peace agreement, for the country lost too many lives in order to control the area. Kara argued that the value of human lives takes precedence over any piece of land.
"Thus, just as Israel withdrew from Southern Lebanon hoping for peace, Armenia should do the same regarding Nagorno-Karabakh. In conclusion, Kara noted: "Both sides must support the UN Security Council resolutions. Everyone must have a judge. We do not have another judge."
Former Israel Consul General Eli Shaked stressed, "Too many countries are getting involved in this conflict: Turkey, Israel, Russia, America, Greece and the Iranians, of course."
"Israel is on the sidelines, but we have historic diplomatic relations and military interests in Azerbaijan, taking into consideration that Azerbaijan is a Muslim Shia country that borders Iran," he added. "We have an embassy in Baku. In contrast, our relations with Armenia have been complicated for many years for various reasons. Of course, international law and UN resolutions are particularly important.
"Yet, there are many emotions and political interests involved, and the superpowers got their own interests. It is not simple to talk about international law and UN resolutions for there are great emotions involved."
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Nevertheless, even though it is not simple, every nation has a sacred duty to uphold international law. For this reason, the community of nations should not recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and instead recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, alongside impose economic and political sanctions against Armenia because of its aggression and war crimes against Azerbaijan
The international community should also encourage Armenia to withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh in the upcoming talks in Washington, DC, so that both peoples can avoid future bloodshed and violence. To achieve these results, the world should stop calling upon both sides to be calm and instead focus their attention upon those who are violating international law!
Rachel Avraham is a political analyst with the Safadi Center for International Diplomacy, Research, Public Relations and Human Rights. She is the author of "Women and Jihad: Debating Palestinian Female Suicide Bombings in the American, Israeli and Arab Media."