Ze’ev Elkin member of Likud Party

JERUSALEM—Israel’s Foreign Ministry must review its position on recognition of the Armenian Genocide, said Ze’ev Elkin member of Likud Party of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset at a conference dedicated to the 96th anniversary of the Genocide.

The Foreign Ministry should not adhere to the non-recognition position which once was introduced by Simon Peres to favor of Turkey, he added, according to the the press service of the Likud party.

“The State of Israel, calling on the world to accept historical justice and observe moral norms, cannot act on the contrary being guided by narrow political views only. It’s time to stop the policy of indulging Turkey, introduced by Shimon Peres. The Jewish State should have been among the first to declare an official recognition. Unfortunately, Israel is one of the last Western countries which has not done so. Better late than never,” he said.

Elkin also urged his fellow members of Knesset to vote for the adoption of a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. He appealed to the chairman of the Knesset Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, Shaul Mofaz, requesting to conclude hearings on the matter and submit a bill for Knesset’s approval.

Many states have recognized the Armenian Genocide. Uruguay was the first to do it in 1965. The Armenian Genocide has since been recognized by Russia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, as well as by 42 of the U.S. states. The Armenian Genocide has also been recognized by the Vatican, the European Parliament, and World Council of Churches.