Israeli party leader's move sparks outcry
President of the Congress of Azerbaijanis in the Middle East has
appealed to the top Israeli leadership over a recent move by the
country's political party leader.
The appeal was forwarded by Alex Shapiro to Israeli President Simon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Parliament Speaker Dalia Itzik after the chairman of the left-wing Social Democratic Party Meretz, Haim Oron, called for tabling the alleged genocide of Armenians at the Knesset's commission on education and culture. The proposal that the lawmaker had already made last year was put forth again just several days ahead of March 31, the anniversary of the massacre of Azerbaijanis.
On that day in 1918, Armenian armed forces unleashed an unprecedented carnage of residents in Baku with the support of Bolsheviks. The massacre was also perpetrated in Shamakhi, Khachmaz, Lankaran and other districts. Over 50,000 Azerbaijanis were brutally killed, including women and children.
Armenians say Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people in the early 20th century, a claim strongly denied by Turkey.
The Congress's appeal said that putting the fake genocide on discussion even at the parliamentary commission level would tarnish Israel's international image.
"If we look at historical facts, it will be clear that it was not the Armenians but Azerbaijanis and Turks who were subject to genocide. Armenians have repeatedly committed massacre against Azerbaijanis. Tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed as a result. Moreover, Jews living in Guba [northern Azerbaijani district] fell victims of Armenians."
The appeal said further that Armenians who occupy 20% of Azerbaijani territories, in pursuit of ethnic cleansing, unleashed carnage on February 26, 1992 in the town of Khojaly that once had a population of 7,000. The powerful Armenian lobby operating abroad, withholding the truth, is misinforming the world community and striving at any cost to present Armenians as a nation that was subjected to genocide itself.
In conclusion, the appeal urged Knesset and the mentioned commission to take a fair stance and pass a proper decision.
The appeal was forwarded by Alex Shapiro to Israeli President Simon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Parliament Speaker Dalia Itzik after the chairman of the left-wing Social Democratic Party Meretz, Haim Oron, called for tabling the alleged genocide of Armenians at the Knesset's commission on education and culture. The proposal that the lawmaker had already made last year was put forth again just several days ahead of March 31, the anniversary of the massacre of Azerbaijanis.
On that day in 1918, Armenian armed forces unleashed an unprecedented carnage of residents in Baku with the support of Bolsheviks. The massacre was also perpetrated in Shamakhi, Khachmaz, Lankaran and other districts. Over 50,000 Azerbaijanis were brutally killed, including women and children.
Armenians say Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people in the early 20th century, a claim strongly denied by Turkey.
The Congress's appeal said that putting the fake genocide on discussion even at the parliamentary commission level would tarnish Israel's international image.
"If we look at historical facts, it will be clear that it was not the Armenians but Azerbaijanis and Turks who were subject to genocide. Armenians have repeatedly committed massacre against Azerbaijanis. Tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed as a result. Moreover, Jews living in Guba [northern Azerbaijani district] fell victims of Armenians."
The appeal said further that Armenians who occupy 20% of Azerbaijani territories, in pursuit of ethnic cleansing, unleashed carnage on February 26, 1992 in the town of Khojaly that once had a population of 7,000. The powerful Armenian lobby operating abroad, withholding the truth, is misinforming the world community and striving at any cost to present Armenians as a nation that was subjected to genocide itself.
In conclusion, the appeal urged Knesset and the mentioned commission to take a fair stance and pass a proper decision.
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