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Our View: Why the new-found interest in the human rights of others?

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  • Our View: Why the new-found interest in the human rights of others?

    Cyprus Mail
    Dec 28 2011


    Our View: Why the new-found interest in the human rights of others?


    THE ISRAELI Knesset's Education and Culture Committee on Monday held a
    three-hour discussion on the Armenian genocide by the Ottomans, the
    first-ever public hearing on the issue, which was attended by
    government officials and representatives of both the Turkish and
    Armenian communities.

    Although no resolution was passed and the session took place despite
    the Israeli government's opposition to the motion, members of the
    Knesset expressed a "moral and historical obligation" to support
    recognition of the genocide.

    The Armenian genocide - in which 1.5 million died - happened in 1915
    and Israel has been a state since 1948 so it is legitimate to ask why
    now, and whether anything will come of this new-found concern for the
    human rights of others?

    For years it has been Israel's policy to not only to refuse to
    recognise the Armenian genocide but to go out of its way to oppose its
    recognition by other countries. Most recently influential Jewish
    organisations in the US worked actively with Turkey to block
    recognition of the genocide by Congress. Where was the Knesset's
    "moral and historical obligation" then?

    Could the new-found concern for the suffering of the early 20th
    century Armenians have anything to do with Israel's deteriorating
    relations with Ankara? The answer is that it has everything to do with
    that and very little, if anything at all, to do with solidarity to a
    race of people who suffered a similar fate to Europe's Jews.

    The Knesset's move can only be described as a cynical political move
    to beat Turkey with the proverbial diplomatic stick, especially in the
    wake of France's decision to have denial of the Armenian genocide
    declared a criminal offence.

    Neither will Monday's session accomplish anything. The Israeli
    government has made it clear that although it is currently at odds
    with Turkey, it would like to keep the door open for future
    restoration of ties with its former military ally. Recognising the
    Armenian genocide would likely be the last nail in the coffin, and not
    something Tel Aviv is likely to risk in the long term.

    Of all the countries in the world that have recognised the Armenian
    genocide, Israel should have been among the first to do so. Gassings,
    cattle cars, concentration camps and death marches, for which there is
    credible historical evidence stemming from the Armenian genocide, are
    words that should invoke solidarity among Jewish people.

    Instead the fate of 1.5 million Armenians has been ignored in Israel
    as if it never happened. Therefore from a moral and historical
    perspective, the Knesset discussion is too little too late, and truly
    meaningless because it was done for all the wrong reasons.

    http://www.cyprus-mail.com/armenian-genocide/our-view-why-new-found-interest-human-rights-others/20111228

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