Israel debates Armenian genocide claims

The Knesset is debating whether to recognise Armenian claims of genocide in a move likely to further strain Israel’s tense ties with Turkey, euronews reports. A parliamentary committee is discussing proposals to create a memorial day to mark the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915. Israel debates Armenian genocide claims Ankara rejects the "genocide" tag. Its once warm relations with Israel worsened severely after last year’s bloodshed on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Israeli commandos boarded to prevent the flotilla challenging the naval blockade of the Palestinian territory. Nine Turks were killed in clashes. Last week France outraged Turkey when its lower house of parliament backed a bill making it illegal to deny Armenians were the victims of genocide. In the diplomatic row that followed, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused France of having committed genocide in Algeria. A view of Jerusalem (Beta/AP, file) EuroNews

Israel debates Armenian genocide claims

Ankara rejects the "genocide" tag.

Its once warm relations with Israel worsened severely after last year’s bloodshed on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Israeli commandos boarded to prevent the flotilla challenging the naval blockade of the Palestinian territory. Nine Turks were killed in clashes.

Last week France outraged Turkey when its lower house of parliament backed a bill making it illegal to deny Armenians were the victims of genocide. In the diplomatic row that followed, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused France of having committed genocide in Algeria.