The chairman of the Knesset maintains that the discussion does not stigmatize any modern country, but expresses the identification of Israel with the victims of massacres.
As Jews, we must recognize the suffering of the Armenian people, even if we do blame anyone, said Tuesday the president of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein, during a plenary discussion on the Armenian Genocide of 1915,
“In this debate, reproaches are made today no country; it is only an expression of our empathy for the victims of the massacre and its terrible consequences, “he has said.
“We do not address blame; we behave as Jews and are respectful of the truth and suffering of other people, “added Edelstein. “We can not deny the history and spread human values for diplomatic reasons or other policies precautions.”
He held the speech in response to a motion placed on the agenda by the President of Meretz [the Labour coalition] Zehava Gal-On, asking the government to recognize the Armenian Genocide before its 100th anniversary next year.
“The government should not sacrifice the recognition on behalf of the interests of time,” she said. “There is every time a different diplomatic context. When we are to maintain our relations with Turkey, we do not recognize the Genocide, and when the Marmara product [Turkish ship demonstration for Gaza in 2010], we change their minds. “
Meretz Chairman stressed the fact that many in the Knesset are children of Holocaust survivors.
“As a nation who experienced the Holocaust, we can not continue to ignore the Armenian Genocide for unwelcome considerations” Has she said.
According to the Parliamentary Reuven Rivlin [Member of the Likud, former Speaker of the Knesset and tipped to be the candidate of the Likud Israeli presidential election in 2014]. The Jewish people, after the Armenians, the next “list” of people to destroy. “
“Whoever planned the final solution thought that when the time comes, the world keeps silent, as was the case for the Armenians. I find it hard to forgive other nations who ignore our tragedy, and we can not ignore the tragedy of another nation. It is a moral obligation for us as a people and as Jews, “said Rivlin. The recent expression of regret a Turkish politician is connected with the fact that many countries, including Israel, refuse to ignore the genocide, said Rivlin.
Tourism Minister Uzi Landau (Likud Beiteinu) responded to the motion instead of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman, saying that as Jews and Israelis, it is a moral duty to recognize the human tragedies, including include the Armenian Genocide.
“What the Knesset mark these tragedies is a good thing. The State of Israel has never denied this happened, “said Landau.
Minister of Tourism [Israel Our Home] however said that in recent years, the subject has taken a political turn between Turkey and Armenia, and that each party is trying to prove she’s right.
“We hope that these two countries will implement the agreement signed several years ago and continue to have a comprehensive dialogue allowing them to heal the wounds of the past remained open for decades,” said Landau.
The discussion ended, the motion was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Knesset, according to the opposition by the Ministry of Education and as proposed by Gal-On. She accused Liberman send the Knesset Member Shimon Ohayon (Likud Beiteinu) to ensure that the motion was submitted to the Committee on secret affairs to ensure that it will be “buried”.
The Jerusalem Post
By Lahav Harkov
Gilbert Béguian translation Armenews.com