An important international symposium on “Armenia-Turkey: How to Normalize Relations” was held in Paris on April 14. It was organized by the French Bureau of the Armenian Cause and the Armenian National Committee of France.

The participants were Dr. Yair Auron, professor of history at Open University, Israel: Auron has for many years been a staunch supporter of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and a strong critic of its denial by the Israeli government.

Auron also spoke about discussions held in the Israeli Parliament on the Armenian Genocide in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Each time, the Israeli government opposed the issue. He expects a similar rejection later this month when the issue is raised in Knesset once again, Harut Sassounian, The California Courier published reported.

Auron specifically pointed out the double-standard practiced by Israel. “The state of Israel continues to struggle against Holocaust denial on one hand, but participates in the denial of another genocide on the other,” he said. “This most likely will damage the struggle against Holocaust denial in the future. One might view this attitude as a moral failure. We have to remember that moral claims can have influence only if they are consistent. … Everyone would agree that Israel has no right to bargain with the memory of the Holocaust. But, even more, it has no right—by no means, in any circumstance, and much less so than any other country—to bargain with the memory of another victim group. And yet Israel did just that with the Armenian Genocide. Israel is contributing to the process of genocide denial and by doing so, it also betrays the memory and the legacy of the Holocaust.”