April 18, 2005 - 10:27 AMT
ISRAEL DENIES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DUE TO FRIENDSHIP WITH TURKEY
Member of the Knesset Josi Saridi published an article titled "Israel among Holocaust Deniers", where he condemned Israel's' position on the Armenian Genocide. The author holds the opinion that the position of official Tel-Aviv is conditioned by friendly relations with Turkey, which denies the Genocide to avoid the responsibility. The second reason, according to the author, is that the acknowledgement of another Genocide will diminish the role of the Jewish Holocaust. "The Israeli Foreign Ministry is afraid of its own shadow thus discrediting us and becoming an associate of the world concealment of the Armenian Genocide", Mr. Saridi writes. He draws a parallel between the position of Israel on the Armenian Genocide and the repressed Tibetans. "The leader of the repressed Tibetans Dalai Lama has twice visited Israel and I was prohibited to meet with him, since the meeting could cause a crisis in Chinese-Israeli relations and twice I have neglected these bans. The analogous motivation reigns in relations with Turkey. In my opinion the moral policy wins at last while the mean one loses", the article says, the International Committee for the organization of events dedicated to the Armenian Genocide 90-th anniversary reported. To note, being one of the few officials, who criticize the policy of the Armenian Genocide denial pursued by Israel, Mr. Saridi, former Israeli Minister of Culture will visit Armenia to take part in the press conference to be held within the frames of the events dedicated Armenian Genocide 90-th anniversary, Arminfo agency reports.