One of the sacred lessons of the Holocaust in contemporary Jewish life has always been that it is such a transcendent historical event that it must not be exploited for political gain by anyone, Jew or gentile. This, in essence is one of the sine qua nons of the ADL, which makes a point of taking to task demagogues of the world who engage in such cheap behavior. My problem with that organization is that such denunciations seem reserved far more often for the political left than the political right. But that’s a subject for another time.

The Israeli Knesset is poised to exploit a different Holocaust in precisely the same way it would take to task any other country engaging in such cheap theatrics. For years, as long as it enjoyed a healthy relationship with Turkey, Israel has refused to acknowledge the Armenian genocide. This is nothing short of Holocaust denial (though of a slightly different vintage, since it isn’t JEWISH Holocaust denial). The ADL too, in accord with Israel’s approach, refused to recognize this historic tragedy. This, despite the fact that the national group features Holocaust education as one of its core missions.

Now that relations with Turkey have soured, Israel can now afford to develop historical memory and a moral conscience. The Knesset is now considering appointing a day in the nation’s calendar that will recognize this other Middle Eastern Holocaust.

Of course there was an Armenian genocide and of course it should be recognized by all nations, including and especially Turkey. But the Knesset’s actions beg the question: why now? The answer is of course because now it’s politically expedient to acknowledge Armenian suffering as long as it discomfits our new enemy of the moment: Turkey.

This is yet another shameful abuse of the Holocaust (this one Armenian) for a nation’s selfish political interests. It is simply unacceptable for Israel or anyone to exploit such unimaginable suffering for partisan advantage. There must be a line drawn somewhere, a sacred prohibition against such cheap and tawdry grandstanding. And as a nation claiming to represent the history and suffering of the entire Jewish people, it is an unpardonable sin for Israel to turn the Armenian genocide into a cudgel to use in it’s mini-war against Turkey.

For if Israel does this, it will simply have no leg to stand on when it wishes to complain about others exploiting OUR Holocaust for their own ends.

The Knesset’s protestations that the new deliberations aren’t politically motivated and have nothing to do with petty vengeance against Turkey for siding with the Palestinians during and after Operation Cast Lead, ring hollow. Just like the defense ministry’s cancellation of a contract with Turkey to deploy an advanced Israeli-made radar system, for fear it might end up in Iran’s hands, rang hollow when it claimed the announcement had nothing to do with the current political spat between the two countries. Of course it has everything to do with politics and little or nothing to do with the security concerns advanced by Israel.

via Armenian Genocide as Political Payback Against Turkey « Tikun Olam-תיקון עולם: Make the World a Better Place.

It is because of my admiration for Turkey that I find it difficult to understand its insensitive position on the Armenian issue. After all, it was not this generation that spilled the blood 100 years ago.

By Yossi Sarid

I have achieved a great success: Finally the Knesset plenum has enabled its Knesset Education Committee to conduct a public discussion of the genocide of the Armenian people. This is the discussion that was prevented for decades. For generations our governments firmly opposed it.

And this, of all governments, is the one that agreed. All the MKs present voted in favor, nobody was opposed, a unanimous decision that exudes a bad smell: too late, too ugly, yuck.

Zahava Gal-On, who returned to the Knesset with renewed strength, made a very nice speech. That is how she assumed her place in the relay race and the mission of her movement, the only one in Israel to avenge the honor of the Armenian people and demand that the historical lesson be learned from an orphaned genocide – victims without murderers. Ahead of time I wished her success where her predecessors – the heads of Meretz – had failed; and my wishes came true.

But it was not my wishes that changed the parliamentary decision, and the reason for the reversal is clear: The Israelis no longer favor the Turks, and are willing even to give up the charms and temptations of Antalya; that’s how angry they are. Now we will demonstrate to you what happens to a country that Israel no longer favors – we will seat it in the low chair; revenge against the gentiles. Now we’ll show them who’s boss.

So we showed them, and how do we look: All the past explanations in favor of the Turks suddenly sank to the bottom of the glass of anger, for which Israel is famous. These, as we recall, were profound explanations from the Sea of Marmara, to which our leaders lent an ethical character, even accompanying them with historiosophical insights.

Eleven years ago, on the 85th memorial day, I went to the Armenian church in Jerusalem, and as “a human being, as a Jew, as an Israeli and as the minister of education of the State of Israel” – that is how I introduced myself – I spoke about the historical justice that must be done, about the special commitment of the Jewish people to the Armenian people, and about my plan to teach our students the universal significance of genocide.

The scandal erupted immediately. My prime minister objected sharply, and Ehud Barak was swiftly joined by Shimon Peres: “These events,” he said, “should be left to historians and not to politicians.”

He was struck dumb last week, when the right thing was done for the wrong reason, and the voice of Shimon was not heard.

At the time the Turks declared me a persona non grata. They, like me, sometimes get confused between rivals and friends, and I consider myself their friend. Turkey is today a developing world power, an example of economic prosperity, which conducts its affairs in the regional and international arena wisely. It is also proof that an Islamic regime is not necessarily Iranian, and that Europe is bitterly mistaken when it locks the gate to Ankara instead of opening it.

The bad guy – Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan – is good for the Turks, and was reelected by an increasingly large majority. This week he said that he tried to convince Hamas to recognize Israel, and will continue to do so.

It is just because of my admiration for Turkey that I find it difficult to understand its insensitive position on the Armenian issue. After all, it was not this generation that spilled the blood 100 years ago; many countries have accepted responsibility for crimes committed in their name a long time ago. Only this week Queen Elizabeth II visited the Irish Republic and offered her hosts regret and identification with all the Irish people who ever suffered at the hand of England. It is not clear why Turkey alone remains intransigent.

But it is quite clear why Israel supported it all these years. In addition to security and financial interests, there is something else concealed here: If everyone begins to acknowledge the tragedy of the other – his own part in the Nakba – what will become of us?

via Too late, too ugly – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News.