Israeli MPs’ move to debate ‘genocide’ ‘doomed to failure’
The Israeli parliament’s decision on Wednesday to begin discussing
in one of its committees the alleged Ottoman-era genocide of
Armenians is doomed to failure, just like the same initiatives of
past years, the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s spokesman has said,
according to the local media.
Burak Ozugergin noted that the Knesset had repeatedly passed decisions to discuss the 1915 events in the past which had fallen through.
The Israeli lawmakers reportedly approved putting the issue on the parliament’s agenda with a 12-8 vote. The motion, initiated by MP Haim Oron of Meretz, along with his party, was supported by representatives of the Avoda party, a former journalist, as well as ethnic Arab MPs. The most arduous opponents were members of the Israel – Our Home party.
Ozugergin said Ankara’s stance on parliaments’ attempts to judge historical events is known, saying "it would be better if researching historical facts was addressed by historians."
According to historians, from 1915 to 1923, Armenians had begun an uprising. They had taken up arms against Turkey and assisted Russia, one of Turkey’s enemies in WWI. To counter these actions, the Ottoman Empire decided to resettle the Armenians. However, the latter claim that their predecessors were subjected to genocide in the process, while Ankara rejects the allegations and has offered to research the events through a joint commission of historians. Armenians have achieved recognition of the alleged genocide in several countries’ parliaments and legislative bodies, including a US congressional panel, though that resolution is non-binding and it is not clear whether it could pass in the full House.
Meanwhile, on Sunday Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu will hold political consultations in Israel and discuss bilteral relations, which deteriorated after the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip last year.*
Burak Ozugergin noted that the Knesset had repeatedly passed decisions to discuss the 1915 events in the past which had fallen through.
The Israeli lawmakers reportedly approved putting the issue on the parliament’s agenda with a 12-8 vote. The motion, initiated by MP Haim Oron of Meretz, along with his party, was supported by representatives of the Avoda party, a former journalist, as well as ethnic Arab MPs. The most arduous opponents were members of the Israel – Our Home party.
Ozugergin said Ankara’s stance on parliaments’ attempts to judge historical events is known, saying "it would be better if researching historical facts was addressed by historians."
According to historians, from 1915 to 1923, Armenians had begun an uprising. They had taken up arms against Turkey and assisted Russia, one of Turkey’s enemies in WWI. To counter these actions, the Ottoman Empire decided to resettle the Armenians. However, the latter claim that their predecessors were subjected to genocide in the process, while Ankara rejects the allegations and has offered to research the events through a joint commission of historians. Armenians have achieved recognition of the alleged genocide in several countries’ parliaments and legislative bodies, including a US congressional panel, though that resolution is non-binding and it is not clear whether it could pass in the full House.
Meanwhile, on Sunday Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu will hold political consultations in Israel and discuss bilteral relations, which deteriorated after the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip last year.*
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