Israeli Cabinet recognition: A new chapter? Not so fast
Armenianweekly. Before we engage with this important topic, let’s put one thing on the table: Sincere criticism of the policies of the State of Israel does not equate to antisemitism.
I will grant that some individuals who criticize Israeli policy may be motivated by antisemitic beliefs, but it is not appropriate for Israel to declare any disagreement with its aggressive policies is based on hatred of Jews. Armenians have ample reason to disagree with Israeli policies, not based on hatred, but because of their impact on the rights of Armenians in the homeland and the diaspora.
This is a difficult topic to discuss openly, since many people, including Armenians, fear being labeled antisemitic. This has also become a dilemma for American Jews who have long supported Israel but are now embarrassed and appalled by the atrocities committed in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon by the Israeli military.
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Israel is not a neutral observer that is simply doing the right thing. It is shameful that a nation such as Israel, founded after the Holocaust, has refused to acknowledge the pain of another people with a shared experience of genocide. In a moment of grotesque irony, a nation born out of the ashes of genocide has been accused of genocide while manipulating the genocide of another victim nation. These are choices Israel has made, and they have resulted in doubts about its sincerity.
Armenians are not antisemitic or ungrateful if they do not pour into the streets in jubilation. The pain inflicted is real and creates skepticism. The dignity of Armenians cannot be negotiated. While the recognition process has restored our self-worth, the world has changed. Armenia is negotiating with Turkey on normalization and with Azerbaijan on a peace treaty. Although the process is complex and fraught with risks, it represents a new chapter. Using recognition as leverage has less value than it did when the outcome was in doubt.
The most interesting outcome to watch in this process is the impact of any recognition effort on the Israeli-Azerbaijan alliance. The rhetoric has been strong from Turkey and Azerbaijan, but the Azerbaijani connection has material content that affects Armenia. Israel supplies weaponry to Azerbaijan that represents a threat to Armenia if regional dynamics shift. Would Azerbaijan reduce its weapons dependency on Israel over recognition of the Armenian Genocide? Would Israel, in response, seek alternative energy sources, since it currently uses the pipelines from Azerbaijan through Georgia and Turkey? One thing is clear: Israel will have to do more than make paper statements. If Armenians were confronted with a scenario in which Israel stopped arms shipments to Azerbaijan but did not recognize the genocide, how would they react?
It is not a neutral observer that is simply doing the right thing.
The timing of Israel’s recognition effort suggests political expediency. The delay in the Knesset is further evidence and suggests that Israel’s recognition integrity is a concern. In the wake of the Gaza atrocities, what credibility would simple Israeli recognition offer? Israel has the opportunity to do the right thing by reducing overt actions that are not in the interests of Armenia or its historical communities.
Any recognition commitment must be backed by respect for the rights of the Armenian community in the Holy Land and by an end to weapons supplies that have been, and could continue to be, used against Armenians. France, for example, resisted Turkish threats when it recognized the genocide. In recent years, France has continued to support the Republic of Armenia with economic, diplomatic and military assistance. This has become an important relationship for Armenia. It reflects shared values and is an extension of what began as the acknowledgment of a historical fact. Israel can and must do the same.
Stepan Piligian
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