Gilad Erdan disappointing me
Published by Avi Green on Tuesday, May 05, 2009 at 9:15 PM.
The Israeli environment minister would not support a bill to officially recognize the Armenian Holocaust, and used a transparent argument against it:
It's very odd when a left-wing politician is the one who's willing to propose something so selfless, and a right-wing politician takes the exact opposite path. That said, considering that Meretz actually sides with Muslims, I wonder if Oron doesn't know that he's taking a stand against the very religion he condones.
Furthermore, Turkey is not a friend of Israel anymore and relations with them are deteriorating as we speak. And Erdan is saying something embarrassing in the name of the government, when he'd do better to avoid it? What he's doing takes the risk of alienating real potential allies, not to mention showing how a nation that's been hit by tragedy is not willing to learn an important lesson by remembering similar tragedies that happened to others as well. He's also providing Ynet with possible ammo to use against rightists.
Admittedly, there's plenty of good questions raised if Oron is even being altruistic about this, but that said, it'll be interesting to see if this has the effect of putting Meretz at odds with any Muslim movements, who're just as hostile to Armenia as they are to Israel.
The Knesset plenum discussed the motion put forward by Meretz Chairman, MK Haim Oron, proposing that Israel officially recognize the Turkish massacre of Armenians during World War I.A parliament that remembers the Jewish Holocaust is not the place to remember others from similar tragedies?
Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan delivered the government's response to the motion, saying "I agree that it is our moral obligation. We have a moral duty to remember the killing of Armenians." Erdan then read aloud the government's response, which objects to commemorating the massacre in the Knesset.
Oron files the motion every year, as close as possible to the memorial day marked on the Armenian calendar, April 24th. The Meretz chairman discussed the matter with a delegation of Armenian representatives, clergy and civilians who were watching the Knesset's debate from the visitor's gallery.
It's very odd when a left-wing politician is the one who's willing to propose something so selfless, and a right-wing politician takes the exact opposite path. That said, considering that Meretz actually sides with Muslims, I wonder if Oron doesn't know that he's taking a stand against the very religion he condones.
"I say – let's create the parliamentary framework for the Knesset to discuss an issue I believe the Knesset must discuss," said Oron. "It is our duty to the Armenian people and to ourselves. There are those who say we should leave it to historians to determine whether it was genocide.I'm sorry, but that's just a pathetic excuse to avoid the issue. The bill, I'm guessing, is in order to get the subject discussed in schools. It certainly should be, and I've got a feeling it's not.
"There are Holocaust deniers who say exactly the same thing. They rely on alleged historical sources and say there are doubts regarding the numbers and figures of the Holocaust. Who else knows like we do that there are some things you must fight for. Exactly one year ago this motion moved to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's table, and there it was buried. I propose that the Education Committee conduct a procedural discussion on it."
Minister Erdan's words were brimming with empathy for the Armenian people, but he also noted the inescapable political ramifications in regards to Israel's relationship with Turkey.
"Israel has never denied the terrible acts carried out against the Armenians, and I am well aware of the intensity of the emotions given the number of victims and the suffering of the Armenian people."
However, he said, Israel's position is that "the study of the events must be done through open discussion, and backed by the historical data, not a political debate in the Knesset. Because of our understanding of the pain and suffering, and so that Israel does not become a side that deals with this from a purely political place, I ask that we take this issue off the Knesset's agenda."
Furthermore, Turkey is not a friend of Israel anymore and relations with them are deteriorating as we speak. And Erdan is saying something embarrassing in the name of the government, when he'd do better to avoid it? What he's doing takes the risk of alienating real potential allies, not to mention showing how a nation that's been hit by tragedy is not willing to learn an important lesson by remembering similar tragedies that happened to others as well. He's also providing Ynet with possible ammo to use against rightists.
Admittedly, there's plenty of good questions raised if Oron is even being altruistic about this, but that said, it'll be interesting to see if this has the effect of putting Meretz at odds with any Muslim movements, who're just as hostile to Armenia as they are to Israel.
