American Jewish Group

[Siamanto]

AZG Armenian Daily #019, 04/02/2005

 

Turkey-EU

 

AMERICAN JEWISH GROUP TO LOBBY FOR TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP

 

For several years now, the Israeli government and a few American-Jewish

groups have supported Turkey on various issues, some of which run

counter to Armenian interests.

 

In addition to denying the Armenian Genocide, lobbying the US Congress

against a commemorative resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide,

and backing Azerbaijan in the Artsax conflict, these Jewish groups

have now added a new irritant to the existing disagreements with

Armenians.

 

In a report issued last December, David A. Harris, the Executive

Director of the American Jewish Committee, wrote that the European

Union's decision to start membership talks with Turkey was "truly

momentous." He stated that Turkey is counting on the AJC and American

Jews to lobby for its interests.

 

The enthusiastic and almost blind support by Israel and some American

Jewish groups for Turkey's EU membership runs against Armenians'

intent to force Turks to recognize the Armenian Genocide and open

the border with Armenia, as the price of admission to the EU.

 

In the following excepts from his lengthy report, Mr. Harris makes

abundantly clear the close partnership between Israel, the AJC

and Turkey:

 

"...In the Turkish Jewish community, with which the American Jewish

Committee has a very close affiliation, last week's news from Brussels

will be enthusiastically received. The 22,000-member community has long

taken the view that Turkey's future anchored in Western institutions

is the best guarantee of national security, stability, and prosperity.

 

"And, in Israel, the EU's announcement will also be welcomed. Israel

has publicly declared its support for Turkey's accession...

 

"In a recent American Jewish Committee visit to Turkey, the European

Union was issue number one (and two and three) on the agenda of

government officials, including the prime minister and foreign

minister. The October EU Commission report had just been released,

and the ensuing two months were seen as the last chance to persuade

European leaders to do the 'right thing' at their fateful meeting in

Brussels on December 16-17.

 

"Turkish leaders view the AJC as important to the political

equation. Not only have we been consistently regarded as a steady and

reliable voice for the Turkish-American relationship, but also, because

of AJC's wide-ranging contacts throughout Europe, the Turks have

counted on our support when we meet with French, German, Greek, and

other European leaders. Lacking a well-organized Diaspora community,

they've looked to American Jews to fulfill that role....

 

"In the 1990s, the [Turkish-Israeli] bilateral relationship took off

in dramatic fashion, including defense cooperation, joint military

exercises, counter-terrorism measures, intelligence-sharing, a free

trade agreement, and tourism~E

 

"Today, Israel regards its links with Turkey as vitally important

and mutually beneficial....

 

"And not least, Turkish Jewry, though diminished in size, largely

due to aliyah [exodus], continues to prosper and enjoy a full

communal life, including keeping alive the Judeo-Spanish language of

Ladino. Anti-Semitism exists, but is not regarded as a major threat,

according to communal leaders. What is a threat -- and not only to

Jews -- is terrorism."

 

By denying the Armenian Genocide, siding with Azerbaijan on the

Artsax conflict, and lobbying the US Congress against recognition

of the Armenian Genocide, the Israeli government and some American

Jewish groups have deeply offended all Armenians. Nevertheless,

both Jews and Armenians must be mindful of the following key points.

 

Armenians must not forget that there are many prominent American

Jewish individuals and organizations as well as high-ranking Israeli

officials and scholars who fully support the Armenians on the

foregoing issues. In their frustration and anger, Armenians would be

wrong to lash out at all Jews. For example, when some ill-mannered

Yeshiva students insult Armenian clergymen in Jerusalem, Armenians

should not react by accusing all Jews or all Israelis of being

anti-Armenian. To be sure, several Israeli officials and Rabbis

as well as Jewish-American-organizations have condemned the crude

behavior of these Yeshiva students. Furthermore, many righteous Jews

have not shied away from severely criticizing the Israeli government

of its denial of the Armenian Genocide.

 

Similarly, Israelis and Jewish Americans should not blame Armenians

of being anti-Jewish, just because o prejudicial statements made by

few Armenian individuals. Armenians and Jews would be unnecessarily

antagonizing each other by indiscriminately condemning all members

of both groups for the sins of the few. Political differences should

not be pursued by exchanging insults, but through informed dialogue

among Armenians and Jews of good faith.

 

By Harut Sassounian; Publisher, The California Courier

 

 

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg104141.html

[Verginne]

Why blame ALL because of some?

 

They've got it very backwards. It is the VAST majority that support those lobbies and it's up to them to shut them up and make them stop.

 

After all, don't the jews say ALL Nazis are bad, even though they know there's a guy named Oscar Schindler?

 

As good as this guy's stinging articles are with the truth, I wish he wouldn't sugar coat it and give credit for mere insignificant bones being thrown to Armenians in order to get them off the hook for their denials and their efforts on behalf of the turks.