Even as American Jewish groups were championing the Armenian Genocide Resolution, lobbyists from Turkey and Israel relentlessly pressured members of the U.S. House of Representatives to squelch the symbolic bill, which was tabled late last week by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Israel’s state policy of Armenian Genocide denial, and its fevered efforts to coerce Pelosi to back off bringing HR 106 to a floor vote, prompted many of Israel’s Armenian citizens – roughly 5,000 Christians and 20,000 Jews – to take to the streets in protest (second item).
Unlike Turkey, which prosecutes its citizens for writing about or otherwise acknowledging the Armenian Genocide as settled history, Israel’s media practiced self-censorship, reports The Christian Science Monitor:With Israel’s strategic relationship with Turkey in mind, the Armenian question has become an untouchable topic. The protest went virtually uncovered by most of the local media and got noticed by foreign papers only.
And Israel’s government took a page from the Ahmadinejad Handbook Of Holocaust Denial:
[Turkey’s ambassador to Israel, Namik] Tan says there is no proof to support the genocide claims and reiterated what he says is a longstanding offer to bring Turkish and Armenian historians together to study the issue.
That, says George Hintlian, historian of the Armenian community of Jerusalem, is not an option.
“For us,” he says, “it’s like sitting with David Irving,” a self-styled British historian famous for questioning facts surrounding the Holocaust. “Do you sit with deniers?” …”I think the totality of the Israeli public and the press sympathizes with us, but this double-standard is so embarrassing for Israeli intellectuals that it’s hard for anyone here to speak about it. We have a psychological burden for the next generation. The American-Jewish community is saying that this stain should be taken away from the people of the Holocaust, but Israel is acting pragmatically.”
Ironically, as Israel curries favor with the Turks it risks losing the once-unquestioned support of the American Jewish community, some of whom are worrying whether they are losing their souls by sacrificing their principles on the alter of pragmatism. The Forward interviewed a member of Anti-Defamation League’s national executive committee who was concerned that the ADL could no longer be counted on to “stand up for what’s right and wrong,” and dared to ask: “[A]re our principles put through some kind of filter that involves Israel’s self-interest?”
Note: The Stiletto writes about politics and other stuff at The Stiletto Blog.
11 users commented in " Israel And The Armenian Question "
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There is a legitimate historical controversy concerning the interpretation of the events in question and most of the scholars who have propounded a contra genocide viewpoint are of the highest calibre and repute, including Bernard Lewis, Stanford Shaw, David Fromkin, Justin McCarthy, Guenther Lewy, Norman Stone, Kamuran Gürün, Michael Gunter, Gilles Veinstein, Andrew Mango, Roderic Davidson, J.C. Hurwitz, William Batkay, Edward J. Erickson and Steven Katz.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. A good number of well-respected scholars recognize the deportation decision in 1915, taken under World War I conditions, as a security measure to stop the Armenians from co-operating with the foreign forces invading Anatolia.
On the legal aspect, the elements of the genocide crime are strictly defined and codified by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Genocide, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 1948. However, Armenians, claiming that “the evidence is so overwhelming”, so far have failed to submit even one credible evidence of genocide
IT IS A BIG LIE
Well, IF Israel had any opinion here… it was coinsided with Republican America, which is [the moderate and positive logic] to keep the tie with the ONLY Muslim nation in NATO.
Everyone knows the cynical TIMING of POLITICIAN Pelosi to torpredo Turkey-US relations. which only invites Iran to jump in and ‘take a piece of America’, imagine that in all of this… Iran blames Israel/US for pushing FOR the ‘Armenian Genocide’, wow, you can never win when you are an innocent Jewish scapegoat…
Mark,
Your post is telling.
At first you state the Armenain genocide is embroiled in a
“historical contraversy”. Then you list questionable historians most of which have been rightfully labeled genocide deniers.
Your last statement tells it all: “It’s a big lie”
You have concluded it is a big lie when you try and cast it as a
contraversy?
It is clear you are living in a state of denial on this subject.
Don’t give in to Turkish Propoganda and it’s appologists you listed.
Come to term from the Ottoman government’s bloody past, and it’s inhumanity to man. Denial is the final stage of genocide.
Maria,
Your point is mute when you realize BOTH Democrats and Republicans
are co-sponsors of the Armenian genocide resolution.
It is NOT a partisan move by Pelosi i.e. the Democrats.
The national talking heads make it seem like it is a partisan move, but they too are ignorant of the issue. Mainstream media are caught up in soundbytes and running with the pack. No room for independent thought and indepth discussion of the issues.
Many in mainstream media paticularly in Washington are lazy and underfunded to conduct meaningfull news to educate the masses.
Getting caught up in partisan bickering serves no one, especially when it is unfounded on this issue.
The recently published article http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5260 tilted “Daniel Ellsberg Says Sibel Edmonds Case ‘Far More Explosive Than Pentagon Papers'” gives a brief glimpse of TURKISH CRIMINAL networks working hand in hand with high level of US government officials.
here’s two interesting paragraphs from this article.
She (Sibel Edmonds) has previously indicated a litany of criminal corruption, malfeasance, and cover-ups concerning the penetration of the FBI and Departments of State and Defense by foreign agents in senior positions; influence-peddling and bribery by shadowy Turkish interests throughout the U.S. government over several administrations; undisclosed information related to 9/11; including alleged illegal activities of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, and, most recently, two other “well-known” members of Congress who she will now name to the mainstream media.
“When you have a publication like Vanity Fair, running a piece and naming someone like Dennis Hastert [as being allegedly involved in bribery by shadowy Turkish interests involved in narcotics trafficking] and nothing happens with it, you think they are going to pay attention to YouTube?” Edmonds explained when we asked why she didn’t release the information herself as a video on the Internet.
We are against (Armenians for Obama)and here is why;;;;;;; Almost a century ago Armenians refuges to America from the genocide to join American dream of presute of liberty and happiness. During great depressions starving Armenians were the minorities that did not stand in line for bowl of governmental meal on the contrary they fed their neighbors. Little that we knew that in beginning of the 21st century we would become as nation of beggers at the democratic partie’s free handouts as the great Baronian would say “PROUD BEGGERS” It is painful to watch how Armenians resorted themselves through wellfare, section 8 housing and bunch other disgraceful govermental handouts into democratic trap. At one time we were known as a nation of history, pride, creators of great composers, writers, artists and regular hard working respected people. How could we allow the few sold out Armenian politicians to convince us that we are anything lesser than a great respected and proud nation and make us believe that Obama’s adiministation will lobby for acceptance of Armenian genocide. Common sense Armenians understand that as long as there are American military basis in Turkey no administration will be able to accept Armenian genocide.
cheap show Obama and Biden.
Election after election democrats got your vote with a promise that was never delivered.
ARMENIANS, are you that blind ?
We refuse to think that Armenians are stupid, maybe it is the wellfare that is atractive to you??? We remember 30 years ago Armenians had a great respect and a special place in America not anymore. We Armenian for common sense refuse to be part of the nation that can joined Obamamania by wearing dispicable printed T-Shirts stating “Armenians for Obama” Please claim your own stupidity by wearing a T Shirt that states that “I am a STUPID Armenian for Obama” and wellfare is my middle name.
Look here people Armenians are a bunch of stupid drivers and racist mofos who thinks that Glendale, CA is the new Armenia. These stupidian Armenian genocide never happened. They just want to milk the American government so they can afford to lease European cars and buy leather jackets and smoke and shower themselves with cologne because they don’t like taking a bath. Wake up people!!! Armenians can’t even show a solid proof that they were genocide. Dumb Stupid Armenians. Don’t make me add “ians” on all your names!
BONE HEAD ONIA ,AGAIN BONE HEAD YAN ,,NOT THE LEAST ,,BONE HEAD IAN .
THEM BE WORTH LESS SHELLS NEEDING CLEANSING RIGHT AWAY.,
TURN ON THE TREE GRINGER AND GET RID OF THESE DIRTY PARACITES NOW
Can you tell me when 20,000 Jews ever protested the Armenian Genocide? I am Armenian from Jerusalem, have attended the protests every year, and 1. there have never been more than a couple hundred people and 2. there have never been more than a few Jews. It is mainly just Armenians, Armenian clergy, and sometimes the Palestinian Christian clergy.
I strongly suggest you get your facts straight before giving the image that somehow the Israelis care about us.
Oh, and we are not citizens of Israel. We either have Jerusalem ID’s/Jordanian, or those in Ramallah and Bethlehem may have Palestinian. Maybe a few dozen in Yafa and Haifa have Israeli..
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