YEREVAN (News.am)—The newly appointed Ambassador of Israel to Armenia Eliyahu Yerushalmi spoke about the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic issue, relations with Armenia’s neighbors, and the possibility of operating direct flights between the countries during an interview with News.am.
“We want to see you living in peace, and our policy is that peace between you and your neighbor has to be based on the Minsk Group,” Yerushalmi said when asked if Israel has changed its position on the Karabakh conflict. “Anything that will be decided for the good of your nations is fine for us. The most important thing is that you have peace in the region, and Armenia could live in peace.”
The Ambassador was also asked to assess the development of Armenian-Israeli relations given that Israel sells weapons to Azerbaijan.
“Naturally, Israel does not comment about this issue,” he responded. “The issue was raised during my meetings in Yerevan and will probably be discussed in future consultations.”
News.am also asked the Ambassador to explain why the Israeli government (Knesset) has not yet recognized the Armenian Genocide after the Education, Culture and Sports Committee has already done so.
Yerushalmi said it is always on the governments mind, calling the genocide the Armenian “tragedy.”
“Israel cannot say what we think happened there because it is a historical issue between you and Turkey. We will go with anything that you and Turkey decide.”
“I was at museum in Yerevan when I visited,” he said, “and it looked very much the same as Yad Vashem, the museum of the Holocaust in Israel. Like on the issue of Karabakh, between you and Azerbaijan, we have to abide by what you and the other side decide.”
The interview also the launch of Yerevan-Tel-Aviv flights and its contribution to the growth of tourism.
“We believe that there is a tremendous potential,” the Ambassador said when asked if flights will resume. “We already signed a few agreements. The direct flight will start maybe even this summer.”
“In Georgia there are over 100 thousand Israeli tourists every year, Yerushalmi compared. “I hope that during my time as an ambassador to Armenia we will also have this. Israelis are looking for new tourist spots. Armenia has a tremendous potential for Israeli tourism, and Yerevan is a super city for Israelis. I think Israelis would love Armenia, and it is also very close; only two-hour flight. I do not have figures, but I think as soon as the direct flights start, we will sell tourist packages to each other.”
It’s all about business!
Most people in the world dont know what happened between the nazis & Jews in Europe, its a historical issue between Jews & Germans and lets allow real historians decide, as most of the so called facts behind the so called holocaust are fabrications & exaggerations all by mostly Jewish historians
Also we want peace between Israel & Palestinians, and to assist in that process towards peace, maybe Armenia should sell some of its arms to the Palestenians, so they too can work towards peace with Israel
🙂
The Israeli ambassador is clearly sympathetic over the question of whether the massacres of Armenians amounted to genocide and compares the 2 museums. Israel, like Armenia, is a country short of friends and Israel needs to try and maintain some sort of relationship with Turkey. It is one thing for countries in Europe to say what they thing, another for a country in the region for whom annoying Turkey could be an existential issue. This is much more fraught issue than the Jewish Holocaust because the Germans accept that this happened and are genuinely appalled by what they did and are sorry. Obviously the same can’t be said about Turkey, (although the Kurds, who did much of the work for them, have I believe apologised). It doesn’t help at all that many Armenians deny the holocaust and do not want to become better friends with the Israelis, who do not consider themselves to be enemies of Armenia.
ur weapons are killing at our villagers and soldiers- what if we sold weapons to your enemies-maybe u will stop being idiots-we know u have the problem with Iran-but u have it as ours too-stop makliong us belioeve in your enemies mr israeli
You mean how Israel trades weapons to Azerbaijan? Yes, I know. I am not justifying it… That’s why we left Israel- We think this hypocrisy and intolerance of the Israel government and people assures no future.
Israeli Ambassador and his bosses should look up the word “hypocrite” in the dictionary, doesn’t really matter which one. I have many friends of Jewish descent who are totally disgusted, rightfully so, with the position of Israeli government as it pertains to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. These so called leaders should understand one thing, by refusing to recognize the Armenian Genocide they are desecrating the memory of the holocaust victims. Please answer this question, if you are an honest Jew, does this sit well with you?
The ambassador and his government are full of Bull Sht
Look who is talking. Zionist Israel talks about peace when they can not make peace with there neighbors. Moreover the are selling arms to the Azeri government. To those hate Armenians. Zionist Israel does not recognize Armenian Genocide. Never ever one can trust zionist Jews
At least you make a difference between Zionist Israelis and the left-wing Israelis… As a leftist, I wouldn’t agree that all Jews are like that.
Israel would be up in arms even at the thought of anyone questioning the holocaust, the hypocrisy of Israel is sickening.
Hey, the name “Rafi Sarkis” sounds really nice 😀