The Knesset goes on holiday, but Ankara has already started putting pressure on Israel in the issue of the Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - At present, the reconsideration of the main directions of the Turkish foreign policy is in process. The recent conclusion of agreement on cooperation in the energy sphere with Iran and the reestablishment of the cooperation with the Arab countries speak of the fact that Ankara is getting closer to the Islamic world, and in the Islamic world the friendship with Israel and the USA is considered betrayal of Islam. However, Turkey still needs both the USA and Israel.

The official Ankara is against the discussion of the question of the Armenian Genocide in the parliament of Israel, strongly believing that it will damage the strategic relationship between Turkey and Israel. The Chairman of the Commission for International Relations of the Parliament of Turkey Murat Mercen declared, "This is a very delicate question for the Turkish society, and we wouldn't want it to be discussed in the Israeli Parliament. We have only asked our Israeli friends to make it clear for several Israeli politicians, that there is no need to "write" a history resting on some momentary political passions, which will do a serious harm to the strategic partnership between Israel and Turkey.

Having been in Israel, the delegation of the Turkish parliament thinks that "the advertising of the Armenian problem is a very delicate issue for Turkey." The representatives of the delegation have declared this to the advisors of the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Shalom Turgeman. "We prefer that this issue isn't discussed in the Israeli Parliament, since it will damage the Turkish-Israeli relations," said the Turkish deputies. It was mentioned, that this problem must be resolved between Turkey and Armenia with the participation of historians. "Israel recognizes the strategic importance of its relations with Turkey, but there are questions and parliamentary initiatives, which have nothing to do with the government," said the Prime, adding that the government of Israel is not interested in the worsening of the relations with Turkey. "I am convinced, that Israel realizes the negative disposition between the two countries, which may be caused by the issue of the Armenian Genocide," said Mercan.

According to the deputy of the Knesset from party "Kadima", the chairman of the inter-parliamentary union "Israel - Armenia" Zeev Elkin, it is not possible to predict the result of the discussion of the Armenian Genocide in the Israeli the Knesset. "The fact that the issue is already involved in the agenda is already a big achievement. During the past 20 years the issue of the Armenian Genocide has not at all been discussed in Israel. The deputies already feel great pressure from the part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish lobby, which now has the support of Azerbaijan as well. It must be mentioned that their reaction was rather quick and effective, which unfortunately can't be said about Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora. The discussion, of course, will not become a bill, but I think that we, in case of a positive decision, may adopt a declaration on the issue of the Armenian Genocide," said Elkin. He reminded that the given initiative is suggested every year around April 24, before the spring holidays of the parliament. "But this time the opposition's demand was supported not only by the opposition, but also by party, included in the coalition. As for me - I was led by pure moral understanding, since I know history very well," emphasized the deputy of The Knesset.

In his turn, the Director of the Institute of the Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Science Professor Ruben Safrastyan thinks, that the discussion of the Armenian Genocide in the Israeli the Knesset is an instrument of pressure on Ankara. "The Resolution on the Armenian Genocide will hardly be passed, and this issue is once again becoming a stumbling block among the three countries. In particular, one of the reasons of the discussion of the issue of the Armenian Genocide was Israel's and the US Jewish Community's resentment with Turkey's attitude towards the Arab countries and the Israel-Palestinian conflict," said Ruben Safrastyan.