Avigdor Eskin : Armenia may play an important role in establishing a dialogue between Israel and Iran

Mr.
Eskin, one of the problematic points in the Armenian-Israeli relations is
Israel’s reluctance to recognize the Armenian Genocide. How can this stance of
Tel Aviv be explained? Given even the realpolitik principles, the relations
between Israel and Turkey are far from being good, though there may be deeper
reasons for non-recognition. Would you tell us about that?       

Unfortunately, today politicians succeed in making
favorable patterns from the century-old tragedy. As for Jews and Israel, nobody
in the world did more than the Jews for publishing of the massacre of
1915.  I would like to recall several
names: Mandelshtam, Morgenthau, Lemkin. I can present the list of Jewish
writers who memorized the victims of the 1915 massacre. Unfortunately, we have
not heard the words of gratitude from the Armenians. On the contrary, slander
on the Jews has been developing among the Armenians for the last years,
allegedly, the Jews prompted Turkish authorities to commit crimes. In 2007 I
visited Yerevan and was shocked by the anti-Semitic sentiments among the
intellectuals. Afterwards I studied the issue myself: http://avigdor-eskin.com/page.php3?page=6&item=500.     

In such an atmosphere it is very much difficult to speak
about a joint stance. In case of acceptance of the Armenian option of the
history, Israel will automatically confess the bloody slander upon the Jews and
Zionist movement. Would Armenia recognize the Holocaust if our books said that
Hitler and his surrounding were Armenians and that the Germans killed the Jews
at the instigation of the Armenians?  If
the matter concerns recognition or non-recognition, Yerevan does not recognize
Jerusalem and Golan Heights within Israel. But we are not resentful people.

Experts
say that close cooperation between Yerevan and Tehran on the one hand and the
active interaction between Tel Aviv and Baku on the other hand hinder the
rapprochement of Armenia and Israel. How reasonable is that opinion? Is it
possible to find a common ground to resist the common challenges in this
volatile region?    

Today the key ally of Armenia is Iran. This affects
our relations. The matter concerns the regime in Iran, which declares that the
goal of its existence is to destroy us. Nevertheless, if both parties display a
good will, it will be possible to find the ways of rapprochement.  Ahmadinejad is quitting the stage and the
real interests of Israel and Iran are getting closer. The Arab spring, the
aggression policy of Qatar and its neighbors, the war in Syria should sober the
real strategists in Tehran. Before 1978 Israel and Iran were close partners and
today they can return to those relations in case both parties display a good
will. In this context Armenia may play an important role given its close
contacts with Tehran. The Armenian Government and your news agency could invite
some respectable ayatollahs from Iran and authoritative rabbis from Israel to
launch a dialogue on the basis of traditionalism. Such a step could bring
benefits to Armenia.  

Ze’ev
Elkin, who has repeatedly come out with pro-Armenian initiatives in Israel, has
become deputy foreign minister of Israel. Do you think this circumstance will
introduce new realities in the relations between our countries?   

Ze’ev Elkin
has headed the Armenian lobby in Israel for many years. He is a respectable and
influential politician. However, his influence in this matter is restricted now
because of his post. The relations between our countries may improve on the
basis I have suggested. If Yerevan initiates contacts between Israel and Iran
on the level of NGOs and then expands them, it will be possible to raise the
relations to a new level.  

How
much probable is the military operation of the USA and Israel against Iran?

The American blow on Iran is not taken seriously now.
And it is very good. I think one should not turn the crisis with Iran into a
global problem. As for Israel, we will not allow those who openly advocate out
destruction to take nuclear weapon. Israel can cope with this problem
independently. I think we should have done it a year ago. 

What
is Israel’s stance on the crisis in Syria? Doesn’t another trouble spot near
the borders of Israel threaten the Jewish state? What measures is Tel Aviv
taking to resolve the situation?  

The
situation is critical in Syria. Twofold more Arabs died in Syria for the two
years of the civil war than for 65 years of the conflict with Israel. In terms
of Syria, the whole world may understand what neighbours we have. Israel preserves
absolute neutrality in the conflict in Syria because of several reasons.
However, the people of Israel are more gunning for Assad. Israel has common
interests with Iran. Although military leadership of Israel is on the alert and
is ready to any provocation at the northern border, nevertheless, there is no
true threat to Israel. At present, our military privilege is so much obvious
that there is no ground for a serious alarm. I should also add that the
"Arab spring" along with shale revolution in the USA and Europe will
bring back the Arab countries to the middle centuries. As for Israel, it should
be more reserved and remain unprovoked at the period of maximal turbulence in
the neighboring countries. 

Turkey’s
curtseys towards the Arab world have led to serious deterioration of relations
with Israel. What problem do you think Ankara was solving when starting a
conflict with the stable and powerful ally in the region?

The relations between Israel and Turkey have always
been double-natured. On the one hand, our rapprochement is natural since both
countries belong to the non-Arab minority in the Middle East. On the other
hand, Turkey's negative attitude towards the Zionist movement and Israel has
its serious roots. One can state that today the Turkish elite has the most
negative attitude towards Israel. We observe it among both Islamists and
nationalists dreaming of Great Turan. But we observe the opposite tendency
among the people. This also concerns the intermediate officers. However, the
people's good attitude has no impact on the country's policy yet.  Moreover, no serious breakthrough is expected
given Ankara's stance on Syria and the Gaza Strip. We also see how the
revanchist sentiments are growing in Turkey. Israel inevitably becomes a
competitor for Turkey and a restraining force. The forecasts for the future of
our relations are rather pessimistic.

Despite the
problems between Israel and Turkey, the relations with Armenia may become
better, as the stance of Israel on the issues, which Armenia is interested in,
is not dictated by Ankara. The present crisis in our relations may be
overcome if one gives up falsehood, envy and groundless hatred. If the dialogue
is built on such a basis, it will result in understanding of the deep and
ancient roots of our existence.