Armenian Genocide Recognized by ADL

Word comes that the Anti-Defamation League will officially (albeit somewhat reluctantly) recognize the Armenian Genocide as Genocide. The ADL, which provides a great service to many communities regarding issues of hate crimes and its prevention, has had a hard time dealing with the Armenian Genocide -- in large part because Turkey won't recognize it as a genocide and Turkey is one of Israel's few friends in the Muslim world. A rebellion in the Boston office pushed the ADL to do this, but such recognition is long overdue.

Apparently this issue has been a divisive one within the Jewish community, whose own experience of genocide is and should be a reminder of what humans can do to each other. This is step in the right direction and hopefully the Turks will eventually recognize that they will be better off accepting rather than denying the complicity in this action of nearly a century ago.

Here is the ADL statement by it's president, Abe Foxman:

In light of the heated controversy that has surrounded the Turkish-Armenian issue in recent weeks, and because of our concern for the unity of the Jewish community at a time of increased threats against the Jewish people, ADL has decided to revisit the tragedy that befell the Armenians.

We have never negated but have always described the painful events of 1915-1918 perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians as massacres and atrocities. On reflection, we have come to share the view of Henry Morgenthau, Sr. that the consequences of those actions were indeed tantamount to genocide. If the word genocide had existed then, they would have called it genocide.

I have consulted with my friend and mentor Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and other respected historians who acknowledge this consensus. I hope that Turkey will understand that it is Turkey's friends who urge that nation to confront its past and work to reconcile with Armenians over this dark chapter in history.

Having said that, we continue to firmly believe that a Congressional resolution on such matters is a counterproductive diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and Armenians and may put at risk the Turkish Jewish community and the important multilateral relationship between Turkey, Israel and the United States.

Jewish organizations have opposed US legislation to recognize the genocide, believing it would hurt Turkish Jews and Israeli-Turkish relations. But, as reported in the article, the legislation's proponent, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), says that this becomes a Turkish-Israel issue of groups like the ADL make it an issue.

In any case, this is a step in the right direction.

More information can be found at the JTA website -- though registration is required.