Israel Should Side With Armenia

[Binyamin Yisrael]

Israel Must Choose Better in Nagorno-Karabakh

Zev Chafets

Thu, October 22, 2020, 3:00 AM EDT

(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Last Saturday, two rival ethnic groups staged a bloody brawl on the road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israel has had its share of political violence lately, but this was not a clash between Jews and Palestinian Arabs, or supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was a fight between Israeli Armenians and Azeris over Nagarno-Karabakh, a territory that Armenia and Azerbaijan are at war over.

Most people here have never heard of Nagarno-Karabakh and have no interest in who wins control of the long-disputed territory in the South Caucasus that sits within Azerbaijan but is Armenian populated and controlled. But a front of that distant war has now been opened here. It may -- and should -- force Israel to do make some difficult strategic and moral choices. And it could open some interesting opportunities.

For almost 30 years, Israel and Azerbaijan have been partners of convenience. Azerbaijan, a Shiite Muslim dictatorship, sells oil to the Jewish State, and buys advanced weapons. Armenia claims that these arms are being used by the Azeris to attack civilian targets in Nagarno-Karabakh.

Israel admits that this could be happening but says it can’t be held responsible for how the Azeris use the weapons they purchase. But it has an obligation under international law to halt further arms sales. This weak response reflects the fact that Israel gets more than oil from Azerbaijan. The country shares a border with Iran, Israel’s arch enemy. At the very least, that makes Baku an important source for intelligence gathering. There are also reports that it is a potential launching pad for the Israeli air force. That makes Azerbaijan a rare and valuable asset, one that Israel is not going to abandon.

Armenia has no such realpolitik value to Israel. But it has a powerful moral case that Israel cannot afford to ignore. Jews and Armenians are similar peoples. Both have reclaimed their sovereignty after centuries of diaspora and persecution. Both have restored their national independence. Armenia, like Israel two generations ago, is a nascent, struggling democracy.

The greatest similarity is, of course, the fact that Jews and Armenians were both victims of 20th century genocide. But instead of bringing them together, the mutual experience has become a point of contention. For decades, Israel has refused to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. Jerusalem is not willing to go beyond the euphemistic “mass killing” to describe Turkey’s systematic murder of more than 1.5 million Armenians in 1915.

Israel’s dissembling stems from its historic fear of offending Turkey, which adamantly denies it committed genocide. Going along with this fiction is a moral stain for Israel -- and an act of hostility towards Armenia.

Israel knows the power of victimization and has made the Holocaust a centerpiece of its diplomacy since 1948. The benefits are obvious. It has won Israel financial reparations from Germany and other European perpetrators, given Israel a freedom of action denied to other small countries and has been a moral trump card against Holocaust deniers like Iran and the Palestinians.

Israeli reticence to accord similar status to Armenia has led to chilly relations since the two countries recognized one another in 1991. But lately that seemed to be changing. Turkey is now blatantly antagonistic toward Israel. There is no reason for Jerusalem to continue to placate it.

In January, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian paid a historic visit to Israel. Nine months later, Armenia opened its first embassy in Tel Aviv. But the timing was terrible. Within two weeks, fighting in Nagarno--Karabakh erupted and the ambassador was recalled.

Arayik Harutyunyan, the de facto Armenian leader of Nagarno-Karabakh, put his own holocaust card on the table. He charged Israel with facilitating the Azeri murder of innocent civilians. “Of course [Israel] knows and continues to supply these weapons anyway,” he told a press conference. “And the Israeli authorities, which themselves survived genocide, are also responsible for this genocide.”

What is taking place in Nagarno-Karabakh is not a genocide. Israel is not the only supplier of weapons to Azerbaijan. That list includes Russian and Turkey. Still, the accusation stung. If the Israeli government protested, it was in an inaudible whisper.

It is unrealistic to imagine that Israel will be shamed into harming its relations with Azerbaijan. But it can, and should, make weapons sales conditional on a promise from the regime in Baku that these weapons won’t be used against civilians. It's not exactly in Israel's interest either to have its weapons fall into the hands of Syrian and Libyan fighters being sent by Turkey to support the Azeri effort.

And Israel should turn this into an opportunity to officially and publicly recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915 and apologize for taking so long. If that antagonizes Turkey, which is now openly hostile toward both Armenia and Israel, so much the better. It would not take much pressure from Washington to encourage this course of action.

Israel and Armenia are natural allies. They understand one another’s predicament as small democracies in a sea of Islamic dictatorships. Israel might even play a role in facilitating a peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Even if that’s not possible, Israel can help Armenia leverage its own moral capital in the service of its national interests; and perhaps join together to combat genocide in other parts of the world.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Zev Chafets is a journalist and author of 14 books. He was a senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the founding managing editor of the Jerusalem Report Magazine.

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[briann]

I agree with this.  Obviously I don't agree that the Armenian genocide is comparable to the shoah, nothing is comparable to what the Nazis did.  But I do feel sympathy for them, and empathize with their cause.

[Nachus]

                                                            

Israel should recognize the Armenian genocide
and they surely do and should side with 
Armenia although this sentiment as well as support has got to be genuine and mutual too and not motivated simply for purposes of convenience, and embraced by all.

[Israel Chai]

This is totally gaslighting. Israel would love to and offered relations to Armenia a bunch of times. They dont want our guns, they sided with George Soros, theyre always making diplomatic indicdents for churches in Israel, and now they see that was dumb, well lets just call for Jews to do the right thing. Write a check for some guns and then we have something to talk about. What exactly do they want? They arent asking for us to enter the war on their side, they dont wamt to side with the Jews. So what the heck do you even want from us? Secret freinds? Get f-ed you were hoping the Arabs would destrpy us every time. I know some Armenians that are right wing and like Israel and some America but much more that are leftist and defend the plight of the FGMstinians. Recognize that the Arabs there are just as bad as the Arabs there and youll get more than a 3 minute speech recgnizing the Turks suck. Until then what kind of friend is that?

[Ulli]

This is totally gaslighting. Israel would love to and offered relations to Armenia a bunch of times. They dont want our guns, they sided with George Soros, theyre always making diplomatic indicdents for churches in Israel, and now they see that was dumb, well lets just call for Jews to do the right thing. Write a check for some guns and then we have something to talk about. What exactly do they want? They arent asking for us to enter the war on their side, they dont wamt to side with the Jews. So what the heck do you even want from us? Secret freinds? Get f-ed you were hoping the Arabs would destrpy us every time. I know some Armenians that are right wing and like Israel and some America but much more that are leftist and defend the plight of the FGMstinians. Recognize that the Arabs there are just as bad as the Arabs there and youll get more than a 3 minute speech recgnizing the Turks suck. Until then what kind of friend is that?

100 % true.

They went with Soros.

They voted in UN against Israel. Specially against Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as capital.

UNITED NATIONS—Armenia joined 127 countries on Thursday to vote in favor of a resolution rejecting President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The world diplomats rejected threats and objections and voted for a measure that discouraged nations from moving their embassies to Jerusalem. The United States’ traditional allies, the United Kingdom and France were among the countries joining the chorus of objections to Trump’s decision last month to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

https://anca.org/in-un-armenia-votes-to-reject-trumps-recognition-of-jerusalem-as-israels-capital/

They should ask Soros for help and not Israel.

[Binyamin Yisrael]

This is totally gaslighting. Israel would love to and offered relations to Armenia a bunch of times. They dont want our guns, they sided with George Soros, theyre always making diplomatic indicdents for churches in Israel, and now they see that was dumb, well lets just call for Jews to do the right thing. Write a check for some guns and then we have something to talk about. What exactly do they want? They arent asking for us to enter the war on their side, they dont wamt to side with the Jews. So what the heck do you even want from us? Secret freinds? Get f-ed you were hoping the Arabs would destrpy us every time. I know some Armenians that are right wing and like Israel and some America but much more that are leftist and defend the plight of the FGMstinians. Recognize that the Arabs there are just as bad as the Arabs there and youll get more than a 3 minute speech recgnizing the Turks suck. Until then what kind of friend is that?

I guess they are self-hating Armenians. Just like Serbs that like Russia are self-hating Serbs.

[Israel Chai]

Oh worse. Many have to say theyre proud Armenians alot that dont hate Jews because you dont really look like a big patriot if you say yay Jews and Israel in Armenia.

I guess they are self-hating Armenians. Just like Serbs that like Russia are self-hating Serbs.

[Nachus]

                                                            

Well, in retrospect, being they acted like general
ingrates with their voting against the embassy
move and their apparent allegiance to the Nazi
George Soros, this support isn't deserved.           However, this surely doesn't undermine the
severity of the Armenian genocide or reflect
on all Armenians. Really a shame though!

[Israel Chai]

                                                           

Well, in retrospect, being they acted like general
ingrates with their voting against the embassy
move and their apparent allegiance to the Nazi
George Soros, this support isn't deserved.           However, this surely doesn't undermine the
severity of the Armenian genocide or reflect
on all Armenians. Really a shame though!

I'm cool with a bunch, but someone's gotta get it through to them that you can't have your cake and eat it too.

[ChabadKahanist]

                                                           

Israel should recognize the Armenian genocide
and they surely do and should side with 
Armenia although this sentiment as well as support has got to be genuine and mutual too and not motivated simply for purposes of convenience, and embraced by all.

Why should we when the Armenians support the "Palestinians"?

[syyuge]

Israel will be on the right side and right front place when the Caliphate of Turkey will be decimated. Everything else now is either business interests or simple politics. At this moment the need is to somehow save the Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh along with their hapless people.

[Israel Chai]

Israel will be on the right side and right front place when the Caliphate of Turkey will be decimated. Everything else now is either business interests or simple politics. At this moment the need is to somehow save the Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh along with their hapless people.

Israel can sell to Greece and they can help. Might even like an alliance with Serbia specifically amd make a new post ussr-nato-eu bloc.

[Nachus]

                                                            

Not having been completely astute on this
particular issue and it's nuances or the
extent of it's complexity, my take on it was
predicated on the commonality of Israel and
Armenia, Jews and Armenians and last but not
least the Shoah and Ottoman genocides factor
including disdain for modern day Erdogan
Turkey. So ChabadKahanist, you are absolutely
right.They support the Fakestinians, so 'mutual' acknowledgements of the genocides is one thing they, however, under no circumstances merit any type of support from Israel or the Jewish people!

[Israel Chai]

Why should we when the Armenians support the "Palestinians"?

It's morally right to recognize that Muslim Turks genocided Armenians and it's morally wrong for Armenia but also Israel to recognize the Fraudestinians. I am for recognizing the Armenian genocide immediately and not supporting Armenia for their support for Terroristinians.

[ChabadKahanist]

It's morally right to recognize that Muslim Turks genocided Armenians and it's morally wrong for Armenia but also Israel to recognize the Fraudestinians. I am for recognizing the Armenian genocide immediately and not supporting Armenia for their support for Terroristinians.

I't's morally wrong for the Armenians to support the "Palestinians" who are no better than Nazis & once they stop supporting the "Palestinians" then we can recognizs it not before!!!!

[Israel Chai]

I't's morally wrong for the Armenians to support the "Palestinians" who are no better than Nazis & once they stop supporting the "Palestinians" then we can recognizs it not before!!!!

Lots of Armenians don't. The politicians do. This scores points with the people, not the politicians, who don't matter.

[ChabadKahanist]

Lots of Armenians don't. The politicians do. This scores points with the people, not the politicians, who don't matter.

The Armenican  in Israel support the "Palestinians" & we can not morally recognize it untl they renounce it!!!!!

[Ulli]

War is over. Armenia basically capitulated.

Statement by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the President of the Russian Federation
10.11.2020
We, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev,
and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin state the following:

1. We hereby declare that a complete ceasefire shall be established and all hostilities shall be stopped in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone as of 00:00 Moscow time on November 10, 2020.

The Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, hereinafter referred to as the Parties, shall remain at their current positions.

2. Aghdam region shall be returned to the Republic of Azerbaijan until November 20, 2020.

3. Peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation shall be deployed along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor, including 1,960 servicemen with firearms, 90 armored personnel carriers, 380 units of motor vehicles and special equipment.

4. The peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation are being deployed in parallel with the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces. The peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation shall stay there for a period of 5 years, with automatic extension for the next 5-year periods, if none of the Parties declares of its intention to terminate the application of this provision 6 months before the expiration of the preceding period.

5. A peacekeeping center shall be deployed to monitor the ceasefire with a view to increasing the effectiveness of control over the implementation of the agreements reached by the Parties to the conflict.

6. The Republic of Armenia shall return the Kelbajar region to the Republic of Azerbaijan by November 15, 2020, and the Lachin region by December 1, 2020. The Lachin corridor (5 km wide), which will provide for communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia and at the same time will not affect the city of Shushi, shall remain under the control of the peacekeeping troops of the Russian Federation.

The Parties have agreed that a plan for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor shall be determined within the next three years, providing communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, with the subsequent redeployment of Russian peacekeeping troops to protect this route.

The Republic of Azerbaijan shall guarantee traffic safety for citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions along the Lachin corridor.

7. Internally displaced persons and refugees shall return to Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas under the control of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

8. An exchange of prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead is to be carried out.

9. All economic and transport links in the region shall be unblocked. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the safety of transport links between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with a view to organizing the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions. Control over transport communication is exercised by the Border Guard Service bodies of the FSS of Russia.

The Parties agree that the construction of new transport communications linking the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with the western regions of Azerbaijan shall be provided.

[Israel Chai]

And then someone made a joke that the UN stopped war of conquest. So how much land did the muslims take this time?

[Ulli]

And then someone made a joke that the UN stopped war of conquest. So how much land did the muslims take this time?

Not so much, because most territories were occupied by Armenia in the 1990s. They took only Susha and a few small areas of Karabach. About the occupied areas  Nikol Pashinyan and his predcessors could have reached an agrement long time ago. He refused to do so. Then he angered Russia and also Israel. Soros has told him to do so. The only two countries that could have helped him. We had before the laptop from hell and now policy from hell.