Within the framework of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a number of activities dedicated to that terrible event took place in Israel.
On April 23 at 18:15 sharp (19:15 Yerevan time) all the churches of Jerusalem chimed the bells 100 times in memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide - the first genocide of the 20th century - this being followed by torchlight procession from the Church of Gregory the Illuminator till the Armenian Genocide monument, where candles were lit, Mendel Korsunsky, the press secretary of the “Noyan Tapan” Armenian Center for Culture and Education in Israel, told Armenian News – NEWS.am.
On Friday morning a liturgy was served at St Jacobs Armenian Cathedral, which was followed by laying wreaths on the monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Later a special ceremony was held at the central hall of Jerusalem Patriarchate. The ceremony was attended by his Sanctity Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan Manougian, Knesset members and Meretz party chair Zehava Gal-On, as well as Palestinian delegation representatives and Mr. Yair Tzaban, who has been struggling for the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Israel for 25 years.
Regardless of his age, Mr. Tzaban, 84, attended the ceremony and in his speech said the following: “Dear brothers, I’m proud of my nation and at the same time I’m full of shame before you. I’m proud of those who like Sarah Aaronsohn from spy organization NILI saved Armenians from the fate which their brothers and sisters suffered in the Ottoman Empire during WWI. I’m proud of Henry Morgenthau - US ambassador to Turkey – who was one of the first to attract the attention of the world community to the horrors committed against the Armenian people. I’m proud of the writer Frantz Werfel who could describe the cruelty of the Osman Turks and reflect on his pages the genuine spirit of the great Armenian nation. I’m also proud of many other representatives of my nation, who didn’t turn their back to the Armenians’ pain. However, I’m full of shame and pain for my government, which is not up to this day ready to recognize the truth and clean itself for its own benefit.
The Jewish people, who cried a cry of pain to the whole world about their terrible loss and required sympathy, have no moral right to close their eyes and ears to the tragedy of others. I would like to end my speech with the following: One mustn’t cross the fine line of morality, regardless of the validity of reasons.”
After the ceremony, the participants went to take part in a rally near the Turkish Consulate, where they were joined by a large number of people, who came to Jerusalem after another rally before the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Later the rally participants headed to the Church of Holy Sepulchre, where they prayed together for the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide. On Sunday evening Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin will have an official meeting with the Armenian delegation.
Israel took part in the ceremony commemorating the Armenian Genocide at the level of Knesset representatives. Unfortunately, despite the great amount of the work directed at the Armenian Genocide recognition by Israel, the official policy hasn’t changed. Israel’s MFA has prohibited its delegation representatives to use the word ‘genocide.’
During the entire 2015, a number of activities and events are planned to take place in the whole country, which will raise the awareness level of Jews regarding that terrible tragedy.
