New York Times–Jerusalem Post report that American Jewish lobby worked against 2000 Armenian Genocide Resolution
WASHINGTON–In the wake of published reports in the New York Times and Jerusalem Post that the Jewish American lobby worked against passage of the Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution–the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has formally called upon the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)–the leading Jewish American advocacy organization–to clarify its position on US recognition and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
The Jerusalem Post (Turkish PM Accuses Israel of "Genocide") reported on April 7th: "Jewish-American lobbies played a key role in stopping a Congressional bill foreseeing an Armenian genocide law." Two days later–the New York Times (With a Word–Israeli-Turkish Strain Surfaces) wrote: "American Jewish organizations have lobbied on Turkey’s behalf against attempts by Armenian-Americans to have the killing of Armenia’s between 1915 and 1921 in Turkey declared a genocide."
In an April 11th letter to AIPAC President Tim Wuliger–ANCA Chairman Kenneth Hachikian underscored the depth of concern within the Armenian American community concerning these reports. He offered the AIPAC leadership an opportunity to clarify to the Armenian American community their actions concerning the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the 106th Congress and to communicate their position on US recognition and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
Hachikian offered the ANCA’s cooperation to AIPAC in working to improve Armenian-Jewish relations that have been strained in recent years by the opposition of many Jewish American community groups to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act–as well as by statemen’s by the Israeli Foreign Minister and other senior Israeli officials denying the Armenian Genocide.
He also noted the April 10th shooting of Armenian sub-deacon Armin Sinanian–apparently by Israeli forces–during fighting in and around Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity.
For more information on AIPAC–visit: http://www.aipac.org