February 8, 2014 - 17:40 AMT
Armenian Genocide recognition by Israel unlikely in near future: analyst

Several Armenian media outlets, including Hraparak daily, reported, citing sources, that "it's possible for Knesset to recognize the Armenian Genocide in 2015. Israeli delegation is planning a visit to Armenia in the months to come."

Israeli political analyst Alexander Tsinker expressed surprise over the report above. "It's now the year 2014, and Israel is busy trying to settle relations with Palestine. It's not customary in Jerusalem to plan a year ahead," he told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Unfortunately, the Genocide recognition issue won't be discussed in near future. However the Knesset committee for education, culture and sports, where the Genocide-related discussions have been held, will continue work in 2014, despite shifts in its composition,” the analyst said, slamming sources for providing unverified reports.

As the expert reminded, the last century was marked in history over the most significant crimes against humanity perpetrated in different parts of the world.

"On April 24, Armenia, along with many countries worldwide, will mark the 99th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century. Millions of people will commemorate the victims of the atrocity perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. The number of states who've recognized the Genocide has been growing with every year since 1965, when the crime against humanity was first recognized by Uruguay. The suit was followed by Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina and 43 states of the U.S. Unfortunately, Israel is not in this list. As a citizen of Israel and founder of the Israeli-Armenian parliamentary friendship group, I am confident, that the people who survived the Holocaust have no moral right to ignore the tragedy of another nation," the analyst stressed.

As he further reminded, for 15 years, the Genocide recognition supporters, representatives of the Israeli-Armenian parliamentary friendship group and MPs have been trying to include the Genocide recognition issue on the parliamentary agenda. "In 2012, the issue was first discussed at Knesset, and this is only the first step on the way to recognition," Tsinker stressed.