Zeev Elkin on recognition of the Armenian Genocide: Israeli  parliament considers that issues of the past should be decided not by  politicians, but by professionals

ArmInfo. In Israel there is a tradition that, as a rule, issues related to the interpretation of  certain historical events are not brought to the political decision. The Minister for Environmental Protection of the State of Israel, the Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Zeev Elkin stated this in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, answering the question whether there is a possibility that the Knesset will pass a resolution recognizing the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people.As he said, such questions are at most, they are submitted for discussion.

 "For example, recognition of the Armenian Genocide. In Israel, this  issue was discussed several times in the parliament, but a  declarative decision was never taken, although in almost all Western  parliaments, declarative decisions were made on this matter. The  Israeli parliament believes that the issues of the past should be  decided not by politicians, but by professionals, as part of  professional discourse. Therefore, I do not think that some kind of  declarative decision on the Holodomor will be taken, as well as other  heavy tragic pages in the history of certain peoples, because this  does not correspond to our parliamentary tradition. As a rule, such  kind of declarations are not accepted in our parliamentary tradition,  "Elkin summed up.

Let us note that Israel did not recognize the Armenian Genocide. This  question was repeatedly put on the agenda of the Knesset, but there  are no changes yet. Experts believe that the main reasons why Israel  does not recognize the Armenian Genocide are constant pressure from  Turkey and opposition of certain groups in Israeli society, who are  afraid that the recognition of the Armenian genocide would damage the  notion of the uniqueness of the Holocaust. According to analysts, the  recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Israel can also seriously  damage the relations of the Jewish state with Azerbaijan, which is  considered a strategic partner of Israel against Iran.