Each Jew’s moral duty is to recognize the Armenian Genocide, said Georgette Avagian, representative of the ARFD Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) in Israel. Israel plays Armenia’s card every time it needs to press Turkey, which has lasted for decades, she said. As soon as the sides achieve reconciliation, Israeli people will forget about the tragedy of Armenians. The politicians will not want a quarrel with Turkey and the Genocide recognition will be put off till the next conflict breaks out, she said in an interview with the IzRus website.

Avagian recalled a conference discussing genocides in order to prevent their perpetration in future was held in Israel in 1982. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide was discussed. However, Turkey exerted pressure on Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir, which put an end to all the talks. In 1989, a documentary on 1915 events was to be televised in Israel, but the Turkish Foreign Ministry appealed to Minister Moshe Arens and the issue was blocked. “Numerous examples can be cited, this story has lasted for decades,” Avagian said.

Israel uses the issue of Armenian Genocide as a bat. It takes it out if anything happens. The Israeli people, who suffered a disaster, is the one supposed to understand and support Armenians. “I think it is duty of each Jewish,” Avagian noted.

She stressed that the Hay Dat office in Israel maintains contacts with Armenian organizations in the U.S., Lebanon, Greece and other states. However, Armenia is a poor country, it has no oil or gas, unlike Turkey with its energy resources.  Therefore, no one wants to argue with them. Historical truth is nothing when the petrodollars are in question, she concluded.