The recognition by the United States of the Armenian Genocide now puts more pressure on those nations that have yet to do so, and especially on Israel, that has until now refused, for reasons of misplaced — and increasingly nonsensical — realpolitik. A report on why Israel has for so long refused to recognize the first genocide of the 20th century, and the moral cost of that refusal, is here: “Why has Israel not yet recognized the Armenian Genocide?,” by Jeremy Sharon, Jerusalem Post, April 25, 2021.
The mass murder of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians from 1915 to 1917 by the regime of the Young Turks in Turkey is widely seen as the first genocide of the 20th century.
It is also an event that has for long pricked at the conscience of the Jewish people, which suffered the horrors of the Holocaust, the worst genocide of the 20th century and of modern times.
Despite the mutual experience of genocide, the State of Israel, ever since its founding, has shied away from recognizing the Armenian experience, a state of affairs that activists decry but others assert has been and continues to be a necessary aspect of the Jewish state’s delicate diplomatic and security position….
A few hours after this report was published at the Jerusalem Post, Joe Biden did recognize the genocide, which the U.S., and Israel, too, ought to have recognized many years ago.
ONE MAN who has struggled for decades to advance this cause is Prof. Israel Charny, whose new book, Israel’s Failed Response to the Armenian Genocide, details how and why the Jewish state has refrained from acknowledging the atrocities as genocide.
The genocide itself was preceded by a failed Turkish assault during the First World War against Russian forces to its east, and Turkey’s attempts to capture the Azeri city of Baku.
The Young Turk regime subsequently blamed Armenians in eastern Anatolia for betraying Turkey and accused them of being a fifth column in the country seeking independence.
As a result, Armenian soldiers in the Turkish army were disarmed and then systematically murdered by Turkish troops, and irregular forces then began committing massacres of Armenian civilians.
The proximate cause of the Armenian genocide from 1915 to 1917 was Turkish fury at having failed to prevail over the Russians in World War I, and the scapegoat was easy to find: the Ottoman Empire’s Armenian minority. But it did not take a defeat in a war to let loose the hatred of the Muslim Turks for the Christian Armenians. Already, between 1894 and 1896, there were the Hamidian massacres of up to 300,000 Armenians, who were killed because some of them had dared to protest their treatment by the government of Abdul Hamid II. Other Christians, too, were the victims of the Turks at the same time, for no other reason than that they were Christians: at Diyarbakir, 25,000 Assyrians were slaughtered along with Armenians. The Turks did not need much of a reason in 1894, or in 1915, to start mass-murdering Armenians, and what we carelessly describe as a “cause” of the Armenian genocide ought to be called more accurately an “excuse” for those killings.
In May 1915 the Turkish parliament authorized mass deportations of Armenians from eastern Turkey to the south, alleging their presence was a national security threat, and under the oversight of civil and military officials, hundreds of thousands of Armenian citizens were then marched to desert concentration camps.
Many were massacred along the way while others died from starvation and dehydration in the Syrian desert….
More than a century has passed since that genocide of 1915-1917, and Turkey continues its policy of denying it, claiming that the numbers of dead have been greatly inflated, that many of the Armenians who died were killed by typhus and other diseases, that others died in pitched battles between Armenian and Turkish soldiers. Turkey has threatened to reduce cooperation, and to downgrade or cut altogether diplomatic relations with, any country that recognizes the genocide. It has been quite successful in that effort: only in 2001 did France, despite its large Armenian population, recognize the genocide, nor did the Soviet Union, despite having Armenian SSR as one of its constituent republics, until the Russian Duma did so in 1995, nor did the United States, with a large and politically active Armenian population, until 2021. Now there are 32 countries that have recognized the genocide. Many of them, weighing the likely consequences of a worsening of relations with Turkey, took a long while to do so. But now, with the momentous American recognition, a diplomatic dam has burst and one can expect another dozen states to soon follow suit.
mortimer says
The Armenian Genocides (plural) and the government-sponsored genocides against all other Turkish Christians … all being citizens of the Ottoman Empire having human rights … were the DRESS REHEARSAL for Hitler’s Endlösung (Final Solution). Therefore, Israel should take up common cause with the Armenians as they have taken sides with the Jews to recognize Hitler’s Holocaust.
April 24, 1915 was the day of the first official phase of the Armenian massacres and ethnic cleansing of Christians generally.
Israel and Western countries should go MUCH FURTHER than recognizing the Armenian Genocides, Hamidian Massacres (and genocides against Assyrian and Pontic Christians).
The world should TAKE CARE to OBSERVE THE MOTIVES of the crimes as published in
The Sultan’s fatwa of 1915: “A UNIVERSAL PROCLAMATION TO ALL PEOPLE OF ISLAM”.- Published by the National Society of Defence, The Seat of the Caliphate.
Note that the CALIPH OF ALL ISLAM ordered a JIHAD against the ENEMIES OF ISLAM … that would include all Christians, but they specifically mentioned Germans as exemptions, since they were strategic allies.
The motive of the Armenian Genocides was JIHAD against the disbelievers. The motive was a core teaching of ISLAM.
Michael Copeland says
“Jews and Christians are filthy. Their lives and wealth can be taken by the muslims in jihad.”
Yasir Qadhi
“Christians are filthy. They are najusa (feces, urine) — a filthy impure dirty substance.”
Yasir Qadhi, faculty member, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN.
http://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/
“First we want to make it clear to all that what makes the kafir’s blood permissible to spill is not him fighting the Muslims, rather it is his “KUFR” [disbelief in Islam] that necessitates his killing.”
Official statement from the Islamic State 2016
https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/03/22/isis-claims-responsibility-for-brussels-attacks-quotes-islamic-law-to-justify-slaughter-of-civilians/
gravenimage says
Goiod posts, Mortimer and Michael.
mortimer says
Hitler based the idea of his anti-Jewish genocide on the JIHADIC GENOCIDES of Islamic Ottoman Turkey. JIHADIC GENOCIDE is the severest form of JIHAD in which all DISBELIEVERS are generally expelled or killed to make room for more Muslims.
This is exactly what happened in Turkey between 1915 and 1924. Armenian, Assyrian and Pontic Christians who were not killed, were expelled from Turkey and the entirety of their property was shared as PLUNDER in a crony-fashion among friends and supporters of the fascist government of Turkey.
It should be noted that PLUNDER is a sacred Islamic doctrine, since one chapter of the Koran is called ‘PLUNDER’ (Al-Anfal) or ‘BOOTY’.
Robbing and plundering non-Muslims is part of the motive for the Armenian Genocides.
Michael Copeland says
Amongst those Christians who left Turkey were Robert Spencer’s grandparents.
gravenimage says
True, Michael.
One small point, Mortimer–the genocide actually began in the mid-1890s. Then as you note, it continued in waves up until 1924.
oskar says
Along with Christianity; Judaism and Yezidism had been largely destroyed in Turkey, with the latter, Yezidis don’t have a single temple to worship nor a significant presence in the country. There are only graves about Yezidi heritage in Turkey but they are sometimes getting ruined by. Solution for Turkey, in my opinion is a federal government form, which will grant freedom and rights to the Kurdish people. Kurdish problem is a problem that affects not only Turkey but the entire Middle East. Kurds, Armenians and other minorities are suffering because the Turkish state is not enthusiastic to solve the problem.
Infidel says
A lot of countries are still playing semantic games even though they have nothing to gain from appeasing Turkey. Israel is one. India is another. Although India’s envoy to Yerevan participated in the commemorations of the event, India has yet to officially recognize it as a genocide
https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/292379/Indian_ambassador_joins_Armenian_Genocide_commemorations
Makes no sense, since Turkey is already openly allied w/ Pakistan on Kashmir, as well as in condemning India’s own internal policies on muslims, and India has nothing to gain from Azerbaijan. India should fire its current foreign ministry swamp people, and start doing things in its own interest, like recognizing the Armenian genocide, moving its Israel embassy to Jerusalem, closing its links w/ the Palis (who are a vassal of Turkey), sever diplomatic relations w/ Turkey and so on
Jerry says
Add to it also the Genocide of Ethnic Greek, Christians of Anatolia and the plunder of their homes, businesses, farms and churches.
gravenimage says
True, Jerry–besides the Armenians, Greek, Assyrian, and Levantine Christians; really, *all* Christians–were also targeted.
SAFI says
Christians in general really not just “Anatolia”. Similar or comparable things were done to levantine christians, Thrace( “european turkey” ) was cleansed of Bulgarian and Greek Christians also many Jews were also pressured to convert duding the same period…
Turks like to say the Armenians were forming revolutionary committees and volunteered in their enemies armies but they have no similar excuse for most of the other groups that they “pre-emptively” slaughered
commonsense says
Jerry and gi: In Serge Trifkovic’s book, *The Sword of the Prophet,* there is a hideously graphic account of a Turkish massacre of Christians (mostly Armenians) which occured in September1922 at the port of Smyrna. Shamefully, the crews of American, British, French, and Italian ships docked in the harbor were ordered to remain neutral and do nothing to help the victims, who numbered two hundred thousand, and who were dying before their eyes. (Pages 124-125).
gravenimage says
This is grimly true, commonsense–but most of the victims in Smyrna who *were* saved were saved by an unlikely American:
“Remembering the American Who Saved 250,000 Greeks From Death in Smyrna”
https://www.pappaspost.com/asa-jennings-american-who-saved-smyrna-greeks/
An SAFI, you are right that were also massacres in the Ottoman Balkans and Thrace, and that Jews were also targeted.
commonsense says
gi: Did not know about Asa Jennings. Thank you.
gravenimage says
Thank you, commonsense. One of the few heartening stories from this dark period.
gravenimage says
For Israel, It’s Time to Recognize the Armenian Genocide
…………….
Absolutely agree with Hugh Fitzgerald. Israel is a civilized nation and this is the right thing to do.
That Hitler based the Holocaust on the model of the Armenian Genocide makes this all the more the case.
Then, Turkey is increasingly agressive towards Israel as it is–there is nothing to be gained by continuing to pretend that the Armenian Genocide did not happen.
I hope that not just Israel but every other civilized nation in the world recognizes this horrific atrocity.
GreekEmpress says
+1 to all the comments above.
Boycott Turkey says
So true it can’t be forgotten also the Greeks and Assyrian Genocides to every civilised country needs to recognise it also it should be taught in schools to as you said it’s what inspired Hitler to do the Holocaust basically what he said was if Turkey can get away it I can to.
jirtu says
I agree and am encouraged by the above readership response. Since they raided the Middle East and then Eastern Europe, Turks have been a plague to humanity spreading racism, religious extremism, oppression, violence, lawlessness, and the determination to enslave Christians and Jews. What is now called Turkey is occupied Armenia, Assyria, and Greece. I am not including Kurdistan because what is referred to these days as “Turkish Kurdistan” is part of eastern Armenia. In the late 19th century, when maps still identified the land by its correct name of Armenia, Sultan Abdul Hamid II made the “Armenia” designation illegal and had it replaced with a Muslim-approved name of Kurdistan.
jewdog says
That was very noble of Biden to proceed with recognition. He has actually been more realistic and morally correct about Turkey and Erdogan than Trump ever was. Trump’s allowing Erdogan to invade Syria to go after the Kurds and other unpopular minorities like the Christians and Yazidis was unworthy of someone who represents America. That is not to suggest that the Biden admin is untarnished by other blemishes, but at least this was a plus.
Oren says
First, I would like it to be considered that perhaps the government of Israel is controlled by some radical leftists, who are completely opposed to confronting muslims for any reason whatsoever. Trauma in relation to racism is the primary defense the fascist billionaires have against exposure, and litigation. Whenever the population begins demanding wealth redistribution from the most obvious candidates, they unleash some racists on tv to get people foaming at the mouth, killing one another in the streets, until people forget about the billionaires. They are aware that what happens in Israel makes the news in America and Europe, and they keep A firm thumb on events there not to upset their kingdoms.
Claiming that diplomacy with the turks and the muslims must be maintained, is the most minor of pretenses, especially when you consider the biggest threat to Israel comes from the fact that the west and the Israeli Jewish population are oblivious to the very real and deadly threat that muslims represent to their survival. That threat is downplayed, and absurdly, while A mass of millions of people call for death to the Jews, the media questions the Jews as to why they aren’t making the land concessions that motivate the muslims desire to mass murder the Jewish people and destroy the nation of Israel.
As if some white gentile could justify wanting to mass murder Jews, due to some national land dispute. Imagine A country the size of new Jersey, with white gentiles blowing themselves up to kill some Jews, because they refuse to give up their land rights and live under Jewish government.
For the most part, most of the Jewish Israeli and American population is unaware of the magnitude of how badly they have been miseducated by their schools, and misinformed by their news.
The exact workings of our hybrid system of government with very little representation on the part of the people permissible, with the wealthy dictating the majority of policies, is not completely clear. It would seem to be the case that the Jewish people and nation will be forced to convince the majority of the world not to hate Jews, by their tears over their many dead.
Or they will break off connection with the world system, and force the wealthy of the world to confront the international left, who represent the second most viable power for maintaining societal cohesion and enabling the continued rule of old white male Jews and gentiles under the shield of defense against racism.
When the Jews of Israel are ready to stand up to the world, that will signal to the billionaires that A new time is upon us, and they will bring the gentiles of the world into compliance with the new state of affairs. That of accepting A Jewish nation with unequal standards of living to the west, standing up for its identity, unapologetic, even though that will massively degrade the support for the claim of the universal equality of all. Blacks, muslims and Chinese can all claim to be the master race, everyone rolls their eyes and ignores them, but if the Jews do it people get angry, they protest, and they can’t ignore it.
The same is the case for white gentiles. I could at this point write A defense for white gentiles based on identity, not race. There is no real reason that white gentile majority nations shouldn’t be permitted to defend their majority. All the non white nations of the world do. It would be A drastic departure from the current narrative of the white gentile nations. I am not sure they could muster support for justice for white gentile people, in A democratic sense, while I am more inclined that the Jews of Israel will talk it out and will support what is fair, moral and in their interests.
Israel already seems to have much higher percentages of support for A nationalist government, with considerable support for focusing on the Jewish population first, than america and western europe, with much less access to advocate media, and knowledge of history. It is true that simply standing up for Jews is not A very viable security standard, but its much better than what the situation is in the west. A homogenous Jewish population is A real security improvement, but that is not discussable yet. In that matter as well, I believe we would win the debate against the left, and we would have support for strengthening Israel’s demographic hold on Israel, by offering muslims money to relocate, and then forcibly relocating them.
It is unjustifiable to claim that millions of Jews should live with the threat of deadly violence A few blocks away from their homes, and millions live in fear of those consequences, while thousands are attacked every year by muslims, but we have to live with that because it would be mean to move them. Especially after they have expelled the Jews from their nation dozens of times, and they would mass murder the Jews today if they could. I repeat myself, but sanity has A way of forcing itself to be declared. In G-d I trust.
Phil says
One correction. The Armenians enlisted in the ottoman army were not allowed to bear weapons and were used as helpers, carriers and diggers before being murdered by the turks.
jirtu says
Turks accuse Armenians fighting on the Russian side. Those Armenians were citizens of Russia, thus they had to fight on the Russian side. There were traditionally no Christian allowed in the Turkish army. However, when it entered WWI, Turkey recruited Christian, including Armenians. At the famous Battle of Sarikamish against Russia,(the badly-dressed for-winter Turkish army froze and was shattered) Armenians were part of the Turkish army. Thus Armenian fought against Armenian because they were citizens of two hostile states. During the battle, an Armenian soldier saved the life of Enver Pasha, the commander of the army. Enver acknowledged the rescue in writing. However, it didn’t stop him from agreeing to launch the genocide of Armenians which had been secretly planned a few years earlier by the Young Turks. To explain his bad leadership and thus defeat at Sarikamish, Enver accused Armenians of betraying Turkey.
By the way, Turks often claim Armenians supported Russia in WWI. The fact is the Armenian political parties, which had advised the Turkish government not to enter the war, called upon Armenians to enroll in the army when Turkey declared war. And why would Turks be surprised that some Armenians were not fans of the Turkish government? When you occupy Armenia and proceed to kill, rape, plunder, forcibly Turkify-Islamize, over-tax, and launch regular massacres for FOUR-HUNDRED YEARS why would you be surprised when some Armenians demonstrate less than loyalty to you?
gravenimage says
The Armenian Genocide began under the Ottoman Empire, continued under the “Young Turks”, and under Atataurk as well.
oskar says
Mustafa Kemal was a thief: “Armenians have no rights in this fertile country. Your country belongs to yours, belongs to Turks” He said it in 1923 after having fully cleansed Turkey from native Armenians.
JCA Reid says
Long, Long overdue.