The Jewish Lobby & Armenian Genocide Bill

Aratta-Kingdom · February 25, 2007

http://www.forward.com/articles/despite-an...ps-stay-mum-on/

Despite Ankara's Entreaties, Groups Stay Mum on Armenian Genocide Bill

Nathan Guttman | Fri. Feb 23, 2007

Washington - Despite fears of upsetting a top Israeli and American ally in

the Muslim world, Jewish organizations are reluctant to respond to Turkish

calls to fight a congressional resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide.

In the past, Jewish groups have aided Turkey's efforts to prevent the United

Stated from applying the term "genocide" to the killing of 1.5 million

Armenians by the Turks during World War I. But this time around, the Forward

has learned, Jewish organizations are declining to commit to the issue,

fearing an uphill battle with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has vowed to

push the resolution through.

In a meeting two weeks ago in Washington, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah

Gul raised the issue with representatives of several leading Jewish

organizations. In the meeting, attended by representatives of eight major

groups, Gul stressed the importance that Turkey sees in preventing the

passage of the resolution. He asked the Jewish groups to use their lobbying

operations on Capitol Hill to aid Ankara's cause.

According to several Jewish representatives who were in the meeting, Turkish

officials warned that the passage of a genocide resolution could threaten

Ankara's strategic ties with the United States and, perhaps, with Israel. In

the past, Jewish groups have been inclined to side with Turkey, which they

see as Israel's only Muslim ally in the region and a power that can check

Islamist radicalism and block Iranian influence. The Israeli air force holds

exercises with Turkey, and Israeli defense industries see the country as a

major export market.

In sharp contrast, several Jewish lawmakers have sided with Armenian

American activists in pressing for a resolution, saying that the moral

imperative is to fight genocide denial.

"There is no debate in the [Jewish] community about the facts regarding what

happened; the only question is, are we willing to recognize it while taking

the risk of alienating our relationship with Turkey?" said Rep. Adam Schiff,

the California Democrat who introduced the genocide resolution January 30.

"When you think of Elie Wiesel's words, that Holocaust denial is a second

trauma for the victims, it's easy to understand the potency of the Armenian

claim."

Schiff was optimistic about the fate of his resolution.

"Chances of getting the resolution passed this time are good," Schiff said.

"Turkey has some of the best lobbyists in town, but we definitely have the

votes." The key question is if and when a vote will take place.

Rep. Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign

Affairs Committee and the only Holocaust survivor in Congress, has yet to

schedule a debate or vote on the measure. The California Democrat is

"focusing on the Iraq debate and has not yet made a decision regarding this

resolution," according to his spokeswoman, Lynne Weil.

Congressional sources predicted that if Lantos tried to block the genocide

resolution in committee, Pelosi would ask him to move it to the House floor

for a vote and he would end up agreeing.

The issue of the resolution came up last week, during Israeli Prime Minister

Ehud Olmert's visit to Ankara.

Israel's relationship with the current Turkish government, led by Prime

Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has experienced ups and downs. Erdogan was

among the first to invite Hamas leaders for a formal visit after their

victory in the Palestinian elections; he declared Israel's war in Lebanon

this past summer to have been illegitimate, and he recently called for

halting the construction project on the Temple Mount. In their meeting last

week, Olmert and Erdogan agreed to send Turkish inspectors to monitor the

construction in Jerusalem.

When asked at a press conference if Israel would convince Jewish

organizations in the United States to take action against the resolution,

Olmert said it was a matter for members of Congress to decide. But he added,

"It will be better if independent experts come together and look into this

matter."

Olmert's statement echoed Turkey's assertion that what happened to Armenians

at the time of the Ottoman Empire is a matter for historians, not

politicians.

During the Turkish foreign minister's recent meeting with Jewish

organizations, sources said, it was Ankara's ambassador to Washington, Nabi

Sensoy, who directly addressed the possible consequences of a resolution.

The ambassador listed several points of cooperation that could be

jeopardized if Congress moves forward, most of them relating to the American

military effort in Iraq. The possibility was raised of Turkey closing

Incirlik air force base, through which American forces in Iraq receive more

than half their fuel supply; for example, Turkish officials suggested, the

Incirlik area could be declared a national bird refuge in which flights and

traffic are limited. The discussion also touched on the effect that the

congressional resolution could have on Turkey's strategic ties with Israel.

Neither side raised the issue of Turkey's Jewish community in the context of

the Armenian genocide resolution. But in interviews after the meeting,

representatives of Jewish organizations said that they were concerned over

the well-being of the Turkish Jewish community if the government in Ankara

decides to express its dismay with America.

Representatives of Jewish organizations who attended the meeting were

reluctant to offer their help to Gul, sources told the Forward. They told

the Turkish foreign minister that the chances of blocking the House

leadership on this issue were slim, and that - as one participant later said

- "no one wants to take on a losing battle."

The meeting included representatives of the American Jewish Committee, the

American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith, the

Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, the Orthodox Union, Chabad

and United Jewish Communities, the national arm of the North American

network of Jewish charitable federations.

William Daroff, UJC's Washington director and a participant in the meeting,

said that "there was no commitment on behalf of Jewish communal leaders on

this issue." Another participant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added

that members of the Jewish groups "were sympathetic but would not commit." A

third participant claimed that the Jewish community is paying lip service to

Turkey on this issue, since all the organizations agree that little that can

be done to block the resolution.

According to several participants, one of the reasons that the Jewish

community took a cautious approach in response to the request of the Turkish

foreign minister was the concern of "over-promising" and of being seen by

the Turks as responsible for failure if Congress approves the resolution.

"There's no doubt that all the wonderful gestures of friendship from Turkey

are much respected," said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Washington representative of

Chabad. "But anyone active on congressional matters would be reluctant to

foretell the outcome of a legislative process, specifically in this case."

Several officials at Jewish organizations have expressed frustration over

recent Turkish actions regarding Israel as well as regulations restricting

Jewish education in Turkey. "Groups are tired of having [the Turkish

representatives] come to us when they need us, but when we need their

cooperation, it isn't always satisfying," said a senior official from one of

the major organizations.

Both the Turkish American and Armenian American communities in the United

States are weighing in on the House debate.

Groups representing the Armenian Diaspora have made recognizing genocide a

major lobbying issue on their agenda. The smaller Turkish American

population is active on blocking the recognition, arguing that the use of

the genocide label would be historically inaccurate. "We see the Holocaust

as an act of genocide. If lawmakers will decide that the Armenians had

suffered genocide, as well, that would make us confused," said Gunay Evinch,

president-elect of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations. He added

that if the resolution were approved by Congress, it would "alienate Turkish

Americans from the American society."

In the Senate, several Jewish lawmakers have assumed a vocal role in

fighting America's refusal to classify the killing of Armenians as genocide.

Currently at issue is President Bush's decision last month to reintroduce

the nomination of career diplomat Richard Hoagland as ambassador to Armenia.

Democrats and at least one Republican, Norm Coleman of Minnesota - one of

two Jewish Republican senators - opposed Hoagland's nomination last year

over his refusal to use the term "genocide" when talking about the killing

of the Armenians in World War I. His predecessor, ambassador John Evans, was

recalled last year after using the term "genocide" publicly.

Senate Democrats are now calling on Bush to withdraw Hoagland's nomination

and find a candidate who is more forthcoming on the genocide issue. Another

Jewish lawmaker, New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, wrote a letter

to Bush last month arguing that "Hoagland's reluctance to classify the

Armenian Genocide as the 20th century's first genocide is a travesty, which

leaves us to believe that he will march lock and step with the

administration's politically motivated stance of denial."

Armenian groups in the United States are divided on the issue of nominating

Hoagland. While the Armenian Assembly of America has called for approving

Hoagland in order to avoid a situation in which the United States has no

ambassador in Yerevan for two years, the Armenian National Committee of

America is calling on the Senate to continue blocking the nomination.

Aratta-Kingdom · March 6, 2007

Ankara tries to influence on U.S. through Jews

05.03.2007

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We will do our best stop the Armenian Genocide bill,” said Tom Lantos, the most powerful person of the Jewish lobby in the U.S. and the chairman of the congressional foreign relations committee after the U.S. visit of Gül and Büyükanit. As reported by Sabah newspaper, Lantos sent a message through the Prime Minister of Israel Olmert.

The Turkish authorities were lobbying in the U.S. against the passage of the bill and trying to convince the chairman of the congressional foreign relations committee Tom Lantos who has a power in the Congress as he survived the Jewish massacre in the 2nd World War.

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A Holocaust survivor fights against the Armenian Holocaust bill? Could this be true? Are the turks again spreading lies or Lantos really is up to something...?

phantom22 · March 6, 2007

Since when should anyone believe anything that is published in the Turkish press?

It may be that Lantos is humoring them. He knows that he will be quickly overruled by the Speaker, so he can gain cover by humoring the Turks, saying that he "will try" to stop the resolution.

hat thes Turkish press is trying to do with Armenians is the same thing that Ariel Sharon did with the Palestinians when he walked at the grounds of the Mosque/Temple Mount in Jeusalem. Get some hotheaded Armenians to do something rash to destroy their credibiltyand chances for passage of the bill. Don't go for the Turk's bait like a stupid fish.

Ankara tries to influence on U.S. through Jews
05.03.2007

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We will do our best stop the Armenian Genocide bill,” said Tom Lantos, the most powerful person of the Jewish lobby in the U.S. and the chairman of the congressional foreign relations committee after the U.S. visit of Gül and Büyükanit. As reported by Sabah newspaper, Lantos sent a message through the Prime Minister of Israel Olmert.

The Turkish authorities were lobbying in the U.S. against the passage of the bill and trying to convince the chairman of the congressional foreign relations committee Tom Lantos who has a power in the Congress as he survived the Jewish massacre in the 2nd World War.
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A Holocaust survivor fights against the Armenian Holocaust bill? Could this be true? Are the turks again spreading lies or Lantos really is up to something...?

Verginne · March 11, 2007

Lantos, until lately, has always been one of turkey's strongest jewish supporters. But they pissed him off when they refused to allow US troops to use turkey for the Iraq war so the last time he voted against them which was seen as a real turn-around for him. Whether or not his pro-turkish sentiments are gone remains to be seen, but I rather doubt it. Edited March 11, 2007 by Verginne

Verginne · March 11, 2007

ANC Confronts Rep. Lantos on Denial of The Armenian Genocide

May 21, 2002

Northern California Congressman—a Holocaust survivor—has taken a leading role in denying the first Genocide of the 20th century

LOS ANGELES—Representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America, during meetings in Washington and in his northern California District Office, have challenged Congressman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) to abandon his policy of Armenian Genocide denial.

"Congressman's Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Kay King explained that Rep. Lantos' opposition to Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide was based on national security grounds."

"Lantos took a leading role in the 106th Congress in attempting to block passage of legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide. As a senior member of the House International Relations Committee, which had jurisdiction over the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.R. 596), Lantos worked feverishly to strike all mention of the word genocide from the legislation. Despite his best efforts, Lantos failed to secure passage of an amendment that would have struck the word genocide from the bill."

"We are particularly concerned that you inferred that the Armenian Genocide resolution should be defeated for fear that America's ally, the Republic of Turkey, would be offended. Specifically, during committee consideration of the bill you remarked, "This legislation at this moment in US-Turkish relations is singularly counterproductive to our national interest." Is this your litmus test for acknowledging crimes against humanity?"

"We are also concerned that there may be other reasons - which you did not state - for your opposition to US recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Some have suggested that your newfound denial of the Armenian Genocide may be unrelated to our country, but of concern to a third party."

http://www.asbarez.com/aol/2002/020521.htm#n1

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Lantos proposal

Second Markup of H.Res.398

Thursday, September 28 2000

Opponents of H.Res.398 Force a Delay of Committee's Vote on the Measure

"The Chairman ruled out of order an amendment by Rep. Lantos, who is a holocaust survivor, to strike any mention of the Armenian Genocide and substitute general language on "man's inhumanity to man."

http://groong.usc.edu/hres398/#thirdmarkup

phantom22 · March 11, 2007

2002 does not equal 2006 or 2007. You are stuck, Verginne.

ANC Confronts Rep. Lantos on Denial of The Armenian Genocide
May 21, 2002

Northern California Congressman—a Holocaust survivor—has taken a leading role in denying the first Genocide of the 20th century

LOS ANGELES—Representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America, during meetings in Washington and in his northern California District Office, have challenged Congressman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) to abandon his policy of Armenian Genocide denial.

"Congressman's Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Kay King explained that Rep. Lantos' opposition to Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide was based on national security grounds."

"Lantos took a leading role in the 106th Congress in attempting to block passage of legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide. As a senior member of the House International Relations Committee, which had jurisdiction over the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.R. 596), Lantos worked feverishly to strike all mention of the word genocide from the legislation. Despite his best efforts, Lantos failed to secure passage of an amendment that would have struck the word genocide from the bill."

"We are particularly concerned that you inferred that the Armenian Genocide resolution should be defeated for fear that America's ally, the Republic of Turkey, would be offended. Specifically, during committee consideration of the bill you remarked, "This legislation at this moment in US-Turkish relations is singularly counterproductive to our national interest." Is this your litmus test for acknowledging crimes against humanity?"

"We are also concerned that there may be other reasons - which you did not state - for your opposition to US recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Some have suggested that your newfound denial of the Armenian Genocide may be unrelated to our country, but of concern to a third party."

http://www.asbarez.com/aol/2002/020521.htm#n1

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Lantos proposal
Second Markup of H.Res.398
Thursday, September 28 2000

Opponents of H.Res.398 Force a Delay of Committee's Vote on the Measure

"The Chairman ruled out of order an amendment by Rep. Lantos, who is a holocaust survivor, to strike any mention of the Armenian Genocide and substitute general language on "man's inhumanity to man."

http://groong.usc.edu/hres398/#thirdmarkup

Verginne · March 12, 2007

The ANC says that Lantos is a pro-turkish AG denier and you deny it/try to hide it. So who is lying?

Better question, WHY???

Edited March 12, 2007 by Verginne

phantom22 · March 12, 2007

Not any more!

The ANC says that Lantos is a pro-turkish AG denier and you deny it/try to hide it. So who is lying?

Better question, WHY???

Verginne · March 13, 2007

Not any more!

Yeah, right.

Discussion of the Armenian Genocide bill in US Congress may be postponed

till 2008

10.03.2007 14:05

Marlena Hovsepyan

"Radiolur"

It is possible that the Armenian Genocide bill will not be included in

the agenda of the US House of Representatives by April 24. Moreover,

editor of the California Courier Harut Sasounsin told `Radiolur' that

the discussions may be postponed by 2008. Why?

Currently the Armenian Genocide bill is being discussed in the House

Foreign Relations Committee, after which it will be submitted to the

vote of the members of the House of Representatives. However, Chairman

of the Foreign Relations Committee Tom Lantos may prevent the vote on

the Armenian resolution.

Ethnic Jew Tom Lantos, who escaped the Holocaust, had to be very

sensitive to a genocide perpetrated against another people. However,

he is known for his pro-Turkish position and has always been voting

against the Armenian bill. The vote two years ago was not an

exception, either. Then member of the Committee Lantos voted for the

pro-Armenian documentl only in order to punish Turkey. He said that

Turkey rejected the attack of the American Army on Iraq from the

Turkish side. `To teach a good lesson to Turkey I must say `yes' to

the Armenian bill,' Harut Sasounian quotes Lantos as saying.

But now the situation is different: during his visit to Washington in

February Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met with Tom Lantos and

threatening to jeopardize the interests of Israel, made him promise to

prevent the adoption of the resolution. It's worth mentioning that

only the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee is eligible to

decide the terms of discussion of this or that bill. Harut Sasounian

says only late March it will become clear whether this information

reported by Turkish sources is true or not.

Despite everything, it is obvious that the Turkish side is taking

every effort to prevent the voting on the bill. The editor-in-chief of

the California Courier is worried that the discussion of the

resolution may be delayed until next year. The reason is the

presidential and parliamentary elections expected in Turkey in 2007,

and the objective of the Turkish authorities is to refrain from

disappointing the electorate preceding the elections. `That is why

they are taking extreme steps by threatening to both Israel and the

United States,' says Harut Sasounian.

It is logical that the Turkish passions towards the Armenian Genocide

bill will calm down after the elections. The importance of this bill

should not be exaggerated, Harut Sasounian says. According to him, in

reality its importance is not that big, since the Congress has already

adopted two similar resolutions. `It should not be perceived as a

question of life and death. In case the resolution is adopted, the

Genocide will be recognized. The Genocide has been recognized long

ago, it will just be another mark,' Mr. Sasounian told ` Radiolur.'

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg180995.html

So whose interests is Lantos looking out for? Obviously it's israel's and no one else's.

Armenak · March 13, 2007

Ethnic Jew? :huh: Was African-American actress Nell Carter ethnically Jewish as well?

Apparently so. Wikipedia lists her as a Jewish American actor.

Aratta-Kingdom · March 14, 2007

It may be that Lantos is humoring them. He knows that he will be quickly overruled by the Speaker, so he can gain cover by humoring the Turks, saying that he "will try" to stop the resolution.

WHAT? A holocaust survival denies the holocaust of the others? What message is he sending to the world? Is this another way of saying Hitler didn't have a good reason to kill the jews, but the Young Turks and the Kemalists did...so it's okay to deny the Armenian Genocide? Is this another way of saying if anyone denies the Jewish Holocaust must be punished, but it's okay for me to deny the Armenian Holocaust?

Armenak · March 14, 2007

The man has his priorities: Security of Israel first... Armenian genocide, Darfur, human rights violations and other such trivial nonsense second.

Aratta-Kingdom · March 14, 2007

The man has his priorities: Security of Israel first... Armenian genocide, Darfur, human rights violations and other such trivial nonsense second.

Correct me if I'm wrong, didn't Hitler made similar claims about the security of Germany?

Also, when people are sent to prison for denying the Jewish Holocaust why do the jews always look for a way to justify their denial of the Armenian Genocide? Are all the others on the face of the earth less human than the jews? Isn't descrimination the base for all the crimes against humanity? How can a holocaust survival denounce the holocaust of the others? Doesn't he remember his own suffering? Doesn't he remember the suffering of all the others who were in the consentration camps with the jews? Isn't he sending a signal to the enemies of Israel that there is always a way out if you work hard?

Aratta-Kingdom · March 15, 2007

TURKISH JEWS LOBBY AGAINST ARMENIAN RESOLUTION

Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY

March 13 2007

A delegation of Turkish Jews lobbied against a resolution under

consideration in the U.S. Congress that would recognize the 1915

massacres of Armenians as genocide. The three-person delegation,

headed by Silvyo Ovadya, the president of the Turkish Jewish community,

attended this week's American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy

conference and met with Jewish leaders as well as members of Congress.

Turkish diplomats have been unsuccessful in mustering broad community

support against the non-binding resolution proposed by Rep. Adam Schiff

(D-Calif.), who is Jewish and has a large Armenian constituency. A

number of Holocaust scholars have labeled the massacres, carried out

by Ottoman-era Turks, as a genocide and have called it a precursor

to the Holocaust. Ovadya said such considerations were best left to

historians, but claimed that politically the resolution would harm

relations between the United States and its closest Muslim ally.

ED · March 15, 2007

The man has his priorities: Security of Israel first... Armenian genocide, Darfur, human rights violations and other such trivial nonsense second.

actualy second would be greed

Have you seen a volchers eat? do you see todays Washington politics how it resembles to it?

MosJan · March 15, 2007

Israel Parliament Rejects Armenian Genocide Bill

AFP

Israel's parliament on Wednesday rejected a motion recognizing the Turkish mass killings of Armenians dating back to 1915 as a genocide.

"Stop ignoring and rejecting the catastrophe of another people," MP Haim Oron, who submitted the motion, told the plenum before the vote.

"We refuse to accept the turning of a blind eye to the Armenian genocide," the opposition left-wing Meretz party MP said. "We owe this vote not only to the Armenian people, we owe it to ourselves, especially in a period where we are struggling to prolong the memory" of the Nazi Holocaust of six million Jews during World War II.

The motion was nevertheless rejected by parliament in a vote of 16 against 12, with a low turnout by MPs. It would have needed a second ratification if it had passed.

The issue of the Armenian massacre has been raised several times in the past in Israel's Knesset, but there has never been an implicit vote branding it as genocide. If approved, Israel would have joined a growing list of countries which have recognized the killings as genocide. It would have marked April 24, the day when the massacres started in 1915, as Armenian genocide memorial day.

Israel has close diplomatic ties with Turkey -- one of the few Muslim countries with which it has relations -- and has in the past steered clear of the recognition issue.

Oron told AFP he had been under heavy pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office and the foreign ministry to withdraw his motion. "I have been under a lot of pressure, but that is something any MP must face," Oron said. "Turkey has been exerting its pressure everywhere. This is their right. But they can not set the agenda of the Israeli parliament."

Government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said that Israel "did not intend to place itself at the forefront of this issue, which is being handled by the international community."

Zartonk · March 16, 2007

Turkey and Israel are too comfortable in bed, so the Knesset will keep toying with it. This is awe to no one. Edited March 16, 2007 by Zartonk

Arpa · March 16, 2007

There was a time when everybody would quote from that Book of Lies written by you-kno-hew. Look who’s quoting from the Book of Lies written by Mehmet. “…were best left to historians”? Where have we herd that first? How about the holocaust were left to the historians, the likes of the KKK and the NeoNazi groups? Or that great “historian” of the 21st c. Ahmadin…whar’s his name.

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TURKISH JEWS LOBBY AGAINST ARMENIAN RESOLUTION