Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem calls on Israel and Turkiye to  recognize Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire

ArmInfo.  The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem expresses deep disappointment over the  removal of the proposed resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide  from the list of issues to be discussed in the Israeli parliament  (Knesset). This was stated in a statement released by the  Patriarchate. 

"This phenomenon raises concerns, as it appears that a foreign state  is capable of exerting such influence over the internal deliberations  of the State of Israel. It is alarming that the regime of the  Republic of Azerbaijan, responsible for the forced displacement and  de-Armenization of over 120,000 indigenous Armenian Christians in  Nagorno-Karabakh, can delay or even decide which issues can be  brought up for debate in the Knesset. We are particularly surprised  that the Aliyev regime appears capable of influencing both the  political calculations of Israeli officials and the moral issues the  Knesset is willing to discuss. The legislative agenda and  deliberations of the Knesset must remain the sovereign responsibility  of the State of Israel," the Jerusalem Patriarchate's statement  continued.

The Patriarchate recalled that the Armenian Genocide is an  indisputable historical fact, noting that its truth is independent of  political circumstances and remains unshakable in the face of  historical documents. "We therefore once again call on the State of  Israel to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide and join the  thirty-two states that have officially recognized the first genocide  of the 20th century. Only after this recognition is realized will we  welcome the morally just and justifiable decision of the State of  Israel as a further confirmation of historical truth.

At the same time, we once again call on the Republic of Turkey to  recognize the Armenian Genocide and put an end to its active policies  and initiatives aimed at distorting historical facts. We make this  call in the conviction that any lasting reconciliation between the  two peoples can only be based on peace if that peace is rooted in  historical truth," the statement continues.

"As the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which welcomed countless  survivors and orphans who sought refuge in the Holy Land after the  Armenian Genocide, we reaffirm our responsibility to preserve the  memory of those who suffered and to pass on their legacy to future  generations. The memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide will  forever remain in the prayers of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church,  for it was the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church that, throughout the  centuries, assumed the sacred mission of preserving our national  memory and identity, especially during the times when the Armenian  people were deprived of statehood. May the memory of the martyrs of  the Armenian Genocide forever remain sacred and blessed in the hearts  of all Armenians and in the conscience of all humanity," the  Patriarchate's statement continued.

On July 13, Israel suspended a critical vote in the Israeli  parliament on recognizing the violence against Armenians by the  Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide. Israel had previously  refrained from officially recognizing the century-long violence as  genocide, but amid a sharp deterioration in relations with Turkey, it  took this step in the cabinet in June of this year. Israeli Prime  Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the violence against Armenians  genocide, but no formal vote on the matter has yet been held.  Turkey  called the Israeli cabinet's actions politically motivated.  Azerbaijan also condemned Israel's intention to recognize the  Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, calling on the government to  reverse its decision.