March 28, 2008 - 13:21 AMT
Knesset decision to discuss Armenian Genocide was quite predictable
The Israeli-Turkish relations leave much to be desired in recent times. In this view, Knesset's decision to discuss the Armenian Genocide issue was quite predictable, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the RA Academy of Sciences, Dr Ruben Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"With Islamists coming to power, Turkey is experiencing reconsideration of the Middle East policy, especially relations with Israel," he said. "The crack in relations emerged in 2006, during the Israeli-Lebanese collisions. The initiative of Israeli MPs might be also linked to the activity of the Jewish organizations in the United States. Even if Knesset votes the motion down, it will do good. The more people speak about the necessity to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the better."

On March 26, the Knesset decided that a parliamentary committee will discuss whether to recognize the World War I-era mass murder of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as Genocide.