Israel’s ministerial legislative committee rejected a bill on Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day proposed by Arieh Eldad representing Ichud Leumi party.

Eldad proposed to tell in schools about the 1915 events each year on April 24, calling on the government not to be afraid of Turkey and recognize the Armenian Genocide.

In an interview with IzRus website Eldad said he would not give way and would raise the issue during the June 22 plenary session of Knesset.

He admits there is little chance the Armenian Genocide will be recognized but Eldad wants the government to explain why it votes against recognition.

“The coalition will vote against but many opposition members will vote for,” he forecasted.

The MP stressed that many parliamentarians inclining Zeev Elkin, Likud Parliamentary Group Chairman, support recognition of the Armenian Genocide but they will vote “as robots”.

“They will never go against the government, they are coward,” he added.

This May Committee on Education, Culture and Sports of the Israeli Knesset accepted the demand to discuss the Armenian Genocide recognition in the parliament.

Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said there is no chance that Israel will recognize the Armenian Genocide.

“We cannot afford damaging relations with our main strategic partner Azerbaijan because of some controversial historical issues relating to the events which happened a century ago,” IzRus website quotes Ayalon.

According to News.co.il website, 90% of Israeli citizens speak for recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Tel-Aviv.