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15.05.2008

THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE AS ISRAEL INSTRUMENT OF PRESSURE

   

Samvel Martirosyan

Martirosyan_Samvel (medium) The discussions held in Knesset at the end of March and in the beginning of April over the possible recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey created a big scandal not only in the country but also beyond its boarders. The issue was mainly struggled between two deputies: Zeev Elkin and Josef Shagal.

On March 26 for the first time in Knesset was made a principal decision that the subject of the Armenian Genocide will be discussed by one of the commissions of the Israeli Parliament. On March 1 began discussions over which of the commissions will undertake further consideration of the issue.

The first motion was introduced by Deputy Khaim Oron (MeReC). Zeev Elkin (Kadima) suggested considering the very subject in the Commission for dducation and Culture. At the same time Josef Shagal (“Nash Dom – Israel”) suggested the issue to be heard in the Commission for Home Affairs and Defense. Elkin was aiming at giving the issue culturological and historical significance, whereas, Shagal placed emphasis on political and military aspects of the problem in the light of possible deterioration of relations with Turkey.

The discussions turned into scandalous squabble between Elkin and Shagal. At that, Shagal was openly blackmailing: “The situation is so that today 20.000 Jews live in Azerbaijan. This is a Jewish community which is in very good terms with local authorities and the locals in general. They have a traditionally good attitude to Jews with no signs of anti-Semitism. But the nation is very hot, isn’t it? For the Azerbaijanis and Turks the Armenian Genocide is a red cloth... all that it may be followed – from diplomatic relations break-up to (god forbid) some excesses in Azerbaijan – lay on the conscience of people who put forward this suggestion not realizing what it may result. Even if they understand it, than only on mere populist level... Am I speaking our clear enough?” On the whole it is obvious that Shagal uses the rhetoric which had already been used in Ankara: threatening of physical safety of the Jews inhabited in the country.

In the very issue one should take into consideration not only Turkey’s dissatisfaction but also the Azerbaijan factor, which is lobbying Ankara’s interests in anti-Armenian issues. Josef Shagal is Azerbaijani born and actively lobbies Baku’s interests heading inter- Parliamentary “Israel-Azerbaijan” friendship groups. Let’s mention that on April 12 was the first anniversary of Israeli-Azerbaijani “AzIs” international association foundation with Lev Spivakov as Director General.

According to Spivakov himself, 14 municipal office branches of this organization have been founded in all the big cities of Israel within the past year. More than 10 thousand Azerbaijan borns became “AzIs” members. On December 31 in Israel was opened an Azerbaijani cultural center, which has already held a number of activates devoted to events now celebrated in Azerbaijan as genocide days. The branches of this organization were also opened in Germany and Holland.

As usual Azerbaijan surpassed Turkey in the genocide issue. According to the Azerbaijani deputy Fazil Gazanfaroglu: “If Israel recognizes the Armenian Genocide we will do our best for a document to be adopted in connection with political genocide of Palestinian Arabs. This time the one in blame for such a decision will become the Israeli party. ”

For Israel Turkey remains an important allay in the region, if not the most important regional power. As a secular country countering the Arabic vector in the region, Turkey is vitally important to the Israeli state. Let alone economic and other factors, including, for example, using Turkey’s air space for training the Israeli military pilots. Herein, in spite of the fact that from the morality standpoint the Jews were to be among the first to recognize the Armenian Genocide, from the practical standpoint Israel can not do it because of its geopolitical position.

At the same time the situation in the region is dynamically changing. The Knesset discussion is to be considered from the standpoint of using the genocide issue for political objectives. More often and often in the world one can observe the phenomena when the crime against humanity becomes an instrument of blackmail against this or that country. The striking example of it became the scandal over the International tribunal on the former Yugoslavia. The ex-prosecutor of Hague tribunal mentioned in his interview given in March to the Italian La Stampa, touching upon the Kosovo recognition issue: “one may observe a deep split in Europe and not only. It is an obvious political issue. The tribunal didn’t have to get engaged in all that, but we recognize that at present politics takes an important place in all those matters.” A few days later the tribunal justified the Kosovian ex-prime minister Ramush Kharadinai who was blamed for the crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide is in active circulation to exert pressure on Ankara. In this very context should be considered the advent of the issue in Knesset. The relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara have been quite complicated recently. Because of the Kurdish issue Turkey closed with the blood enemies of Israel – Iran and Syria. Besides, there is a fear that the Turkish society will move towards the Islamic fundamentalism and will change the pro-western vector completely contradicting the Israeli interests.

One of the symptoms of tensity in relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara became the fact of supporting a number of Jewish Lobbyist organizations claiming the official Washington to recognize the Armenian Genocide. It was than that the Turkish authorities directly threatened Israel that in case of anything they can not guarantee the safety of Jews in Turkey.

At present Israel is very soft in exerting pressure on Turkey and periodically putting forward the Israeli issue. The government unambiguously supports Ankara, however the issue is simultaneously raised by other structures - the lobbyists or parliamentarians. That’s why there is no ground to think that a resolution on the Armenian Genocide will soon be adopted in Knesset. Like in case of the US, the very issue will in the near future be constantly used by Tel Aviv to exert pressure on Ankara.


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