Israeli Knesset refuses to debate Armenian 'genocide'

15 parliamentarians supported the discussions and 12 wanted the problems to be discussed at the commission of the Parliament. The initiator of the discussions Khaim Oron said Israeli Foreign Ministry and chancellery of Prime Minister exerted pressure on him after he put forward the proposal.

He said that those who are against the discussion of alleged Armenian genocide are afraid that it can harm Israel-Turkey relations.

Israel always had one-sided approach to the "Armenian genocide" – all governments considered the claims that a genocide as committed against Armenians in 1915 groundless. Israeli government never used the phrase "genocide" with regard to it. There are a lot of facts proving Israel's support for Turkey's position.

The demonstration of the film "Armenian settlement in Jerusalem" about "Armenian genocide" was banned in 1978 and Israeli government interfered with the international congress on Holocaust and genocide problems in 1982, APA reports.

Besides, the government did not allow publication of opinions about "Armenian genocide" in the calendar. The demonstration of the film "Armenian policy" made in the US in 1990 was banned. The position of Israeli government on genocide claims also influences on Israel-Armenian relations.

Israeli experts state that Israel supports the position of Turkey, its main partner in foreign policy, military and economic spheres. Jewish lobby supported Turkish lobby in prevention of approval of Armenian genocide resolution by the US Congress.

Israel's position on the alleged Armenian genocide is connected with not wanting to lose the status "Suffering nation of the 20th century" and close cooperation with Turkey. Besides, there is a public opinion in Israel that the Holocaust is the only fact on wiping out the nation and therefore no other event can be compared with the Holocaust.