Israeli Knesset fails to adopt a resolution on Armenian Genocide again

 The Israeli Knesset has submitted a resolution on the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire to the Standing Committee on Education, Science and Culture, which will apply to historians and specialists. It will also use Armenian and Turkish archive documents and present a general conclusion.    

This decision has been taken upon recommendation of the Tzachi Hanegbi, member of Likud, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, in charge of National Security and Foreign Affairs. 

To recall, the resolution on the Armenian Genocide was introduced in the agenda of the Israeli Knesset by Zehava Gal-On, head of the Meretz Party, which consistently defends Armenian interests in the Israeli Parliament. Last April, she demanded that Moshe Ya'alon, the then defense minister, should stop supplying drones to Azerbaijan if Baku fails to refrain from using the drones against the Armenian forces in the Karabakh conflict zone. 

On July 5, the Knesset was to discuss and adopt the specified resolution. The issue was included in the agenda but was not put up for a vote. Only 24 out of 120 lawmakers took part in the debates.    

An action of protest was held near the Knesset building. Izrus reports that the demonstrators demanded recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Ex-lawmaker Yair Tzaban, Professor Yair Auron and others were among the demonstrators. During the session dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said that Israel cannot ignore or deny that dreadful genocide.      

To note, Israel failed to recognize the Armenian Genocide even in the period of deterioration of its relations with Turkey.