Armenians were a ‘Fifth Column’ and Turks Decided to Expel Them: Debate in Israel’s Knesset

The Israeli parliamentary Education, Culture and Sports Committee today was debating the issue of recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in Ottoman Turkey. Epress.am was closely following developments that took place earlier today.

1:15 pm: Board member of the Azerbaijan-Israel International Association Yana Salman: “Israel shouldn’t recognize the genocide of the Armenians. Armenians are using events that took place a century ago for political purposes. I do not dispute the fact of the death of many Armenians in the Ottoman Empire , but it was a war, and many Armenians were the de facto ‘fifth column’ and so the Turks decided to expel them from their homes.”

1 pm: Georgette Avagian, representative of the Hay Dat (“Armenian Cause”) in Israel: “If Israel recognized the Armenian Genocide, Turkey would begin to have more respect for Israel — because Israel would prove its independence and strength. I hope that the genocide will be recognized, so that I can be proud of my country — Israel.”

12:45 pm: Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likund): “Differences between Ankara and Yerevan shouldn’t erase historical facts, because the fact of the massacre of the peaceful Armenian population 96 years ago cannot be disputed. Recognition of this fact has no connection to Turkey today — we are talking of a historical event. Despite the fact that I don’t hide my views, Turkey never thought to declare me a persona non grata.”

12:30 pm: Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On: “The Armenian Genocide should be studied in schools; the Jewish people should be the first to recognize the tragedy of the past. I hope that recognition of the genocide will not ruin relations with Turkey.”