Turkey's repressive Kurdish policy represents the antithesis of values Jews espouse. Yet the state of Israel has not only kept silent on Turkey's treatment of the Kurds, it has been in the forefront of promoting Turkey's image and Turkey's interests abroad. Prominent members of the Jewish community in the United States have worked to undermine recognition of thc Armenian genocide as well. In 1992 Jews and Turks held celebrations to mark 500 years of Turkish "tolerance." Why is this so? In large part because Jews equate their survival with that of Israel, a fragile state in a precarious part of the world. And this value takes precedence over the historical concern of Jews with ethical issues.
In this Israel is not alone. All nations are pre-occupied with strengthening their economies, enhancing their power, and assuring their survival at the expense of loftier values to which they tend to pay lip service when there is need to justify or obscure policies. Stateless people such as the Kurds are natural flotsam in the interplay of geopolitics, gaining attention and significance, or relegated to obscurity in almost direct proportion to their utility in furthering, or at least in not threatening the agendas of existing states. Such helps to explain why supporters of Israel have long been promoting the cause of the Iraqi Kurds while ignoring and suppressing the fact of Kurdish repression in Turkey.
History to Live Up To Remember Bitburg? TheJewish communitywas outragedwith President Reagan for agreeing to visit the graves of German soldiers. Elie Wiesel said, "That place, Mr. President, is not your place. Your place is with the victims of the SS..." Wiesel went on to talk of what he had learned in the past fortyyears: "I learned that in extreme situations when human lives and dignity are at stake, neutrality is a sin...Jews were killed by the enemy, but betrayed by their so-called Allies who found political reasons to justify their indifference or passivity...I have learned the danger of indifference, the crime of indifference." (Congressional Record, Vol. 131 No. 47, 4.22.85)
When Czech president, Vadav Havel, visited Kurt Waldheim in Austria, New York Times pundit A. H. Rosenthal mounted the moral high ground to remind him that "Now and then even a philosopher-hero should take account of the emotions and values of the people who do remember yesterday and its lessons."(NYT 9.29.90)
In 1990 when the U.S. moved to condemn Israel's response to the Palestinian uprising, Jewish groups charged that the U.S. betrayed Israel and "its own honor." Rabbi MarcAngel, president of the Rabbinical Council of America called "American complicity in this hypocrisy...alarming." And he asked, ''Will oil and terrorism become the arbiters of justice in the world?" (NYT 10.11.90)
It is no accident that Rabbi Angel alluded to justice. For not love, but justice is the foundation of Jewish ethics. Justice demands equal application of the same standard one invokes to assess the acts of one's friends and one's adversaries. If not, such lofty declamations are relegated to the moral ash heap. Yet, to keep on Turkey's good side, supporters of Israel have become accomplices in denying the Armenian genocide. To stay in Turkey's good graces, Jews have remained silent on Turkey's repression of more than 15 million Kurds, over half the Kurds in the Middlc East, even as supporters of Israel court Kurds in Iraq.
Menachem Rosensaft, chairman of the International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust survivors had this to say about the responsibility of Jews, "We must take our place at the forefront of the struggle against racial hatred and oppression of any kind, and to accept the heavy responsibility inherent in our unique id.entity." (NY Post 5.28.88) But he also askedJews to "identify unambiguously with Israel." And therein lies the dilemma.
History to Live Down Look at a few highlights of Turkey's history. The Ottoman forebears of the modern Turks swooped down from outer Mongolia to conquer the Middle East up to the borders of the Persian Empire and to occupy a vast domain populated by Christians and Muslims. Details of the conquests still live in dusty stacks in our nation's libraries, though they remain an enigma to most Americans who still have trouble locating that part of the world on the map. And what a dismal history it is.
The Janissaries, crack troops of the Ottoman Sultan, were Christian boys forcibly taken from their mothers before they reached the age of eight and raised as Muslims and defenders of the Empire. As men they were turned loose to murder those who gave them life. History holds other times when Christian mothers wept. For instance, on September 18,1824, nearlytwo centuries ago, the Salem Observer informed Massachusetts readers of "the cruelties of the Turks. On entering Melenia, they put to the sword all the Christians above eight years of age, and at Pergamos, they massacred in thirty eight hours, ten thousand Christians." The New York Times of October 11,1917 noted that before the first crusade, the Arabs had never persecuted Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre, "But the Seljukian Turks changed all that when they occupied all Syria and the Holy Land in the eleventh century. They persecuted Arab, Jew and Christian pilgrim alike." And all their women wept.
Five years later, American Consul to Smyrna, George Horton penned these unhappy words: "I have often been impressed with the hopelessness of making people who have not been eye-witnesses, comprehend the dreadful character of the massacres which are carried on by the Turks against the Christian population of the Orient...One of the keenest impressions which I brought away with me from Smyrna was a feeling of shame that I belonged to the human race...the Turks were glutting freely their racial and religious lust for slaughter, rape and plunder within a stone's throw of the Allied and American battle-ships because they had been systematically led to believe that they would not be interfered with...And this, the presence of those battle-ships in Smyrna harbor, in the year of our Lord 1922, impotently watching the last great scene in the tragedy of the Christians of Turkey, was the saddest and most significant feature of the whole picture...Christians were abandoned as no Christian power desired to offend the Turk, from whom great benefits were expected...It is a curious fact that the Turk is still able to deceive Europeans, despite long observation of his tactics..." (Report on Turkey, USA Consular Documents)
Never mind the historical record. The record of Turkey in this century alone is rife with massacres, atrocities and repression. Ask any Armenian, Alevi Arab or Kurd. Yet, in 1986 after the massacre of Jews in the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey's Permanent Representative to the United Nations had no qualms about defending his country's "historical record of religious tolerance and non discrimination." This at a time when the total suppression of Kurds in the country had reached its sixty first year and counting. "...all Turkish citizens are under the protection of the state irrespective of their religion, language, race and color," he proclaimed. As Jewish women wept . (NYT 9.10.86)
Of millions of Christians who fell under Ottoman dominion, Christians of all kinds number less than 0.5% of Turkey's population today. Of the more than 200,000 Jews in the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the century, barely 20,000 remained to witness the synagogue massacre in 1986. Even less now. And for more than sixty years after the genocide of Armenians it has been the Kurds' turn to be assimilated - or else. And still Kurdish women weep. The argument that the Turk of today is not the Turk of yesterday is a subterfuge. Turkey has yet to acknowledge the Armenian genocide. As this is written, the decimation of Kurds is still underway in a country that is nowhere near the secular democracy that Ankara and its allies claim.
"Jews who were admitted into the Ottoman Empire bySultan Bayazid 11 are of the opinion that claims of genocide in Jvrkey are ties. " David Asseo, Istanbul's Chief Rabbi
Relations between Israel and Turkey Jews were undcrstandablygrateful to Ottoman Turks whogave them refuge when they fled the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. Not that the Turks were motivated by altruism. Time and again history records that Jews were allowed into countries to finance a ruler's misadventures. Denied land ownership, they served as craftsmen and money-lenders. When the time for repayment came, more often than not theywere expelled. Understandably Jews were appreciative when the non-Arab government of Turkey officially recognized Israel's statehood in 1948. But they were less pleased when Turkey reacted to Israel's incorporation of East Jerusalem evicting the Israeli ambassador to Ankara and lowering diplomatic exchanges between the two countries to the level of second secretaries. However, as they looked to polish their image and further their economic interests in the U.S. it wasn't long before the Turks concluded that the Jewish lobby and Jewish media influence could be of great use. Israel's supporters acquiesced, eager as they always are to find a friend of any ilk in an otherwise unfriendly Middle East, especially a friend blessed by the United States.
George Gruen, the American Jewish Committee's Director of Middle East Affairs explained Turke's motives in an interview that appeared in the Jewish Exponent: "Ankara believes that good relations with Israel are helpful in building support for Turkey in the United States...Not onlycan it argue that the U.S. should look favorably on Turkey since, with the exception of Egypt, it is the only Middle Eastern state which has relations with Israel, but Ankara also can use its relations with Israel as a lever both with Israel and with the
...
> Turkey's repressive Kurdish policy represents the antithesis of values > Jews espouse. Yet the state of Israel has not only kept silent on > Turkey's treatment of the Kurds, it has been in the forefront of > promoting Turkey's image and Turkey's interests abroad. Prominent > members of the Jewish community in the United States have worked to > undermine recognition of thc Armenian genocide as well. In 1992 Jews > and Turks held celebrations to mark 500 years of Turkish "tolerance." > Why is this so? In large part because Jews equate their survival with > that of Israel, a fragile state in a precarious part of the world. And > this value takes precedence over the historical concern of Jews with > ethical issues.
> In this Israel is not alone. All nations are pre-occupied with > strengthening their economies, enhancing their power, and assuring > their survival at the expense of loftier values to which they tend to > pay lip service when there is need to justify or obscure policies. > Stateless people such as the Kurds are natural flotsam in the > interplay of geopolitics, gaining attention and significance, or > relegated to obscurity in almost direct proportion to their utility in > furthering, or at least in not threatening the agendas of existing > states. Such helps to explain why supporters of Israel have long been > promoting the cause of the Iraqi Kurds while ignoring and suppressing > the fact of Kurdish repression in Turkey.
> History to Live Up To > Remember Bitburg? TheJewish communitywas outragedwith President Reagan > for agreeing to visit the graves of German soldiers. Elie Wiesel said, > "That place, Mr. President, is not your place. Your place is with the > victims of the SS..." Wiesel went on to talk of what he had learned in > the past fortyyears: "I learned that in extreme situations when human > lives and dignity are at stake, neutrality is a sin...Jews were killed > by the enemy, but betrayed by their so-called Allies who found > political reasons to justify their indifference or passivity...I have > learned the danger of indifference, the crime of indifference." > (Congressional Record, Vol. 131 No. 47, 4.22.85)
> When Czech president, Vadav Havel, visited Kurt Waldheim in Austria, > New York Times pundit A. H. Rosenthal mounted the moral high ground to > remind him that "Now and then even a philosopher-hero should take > account of the emotions and values of the people who do remember > yesterday and its lessons."(NYT 9.29.90)
> In 1990 when the U.S. moved to condemn Israel's response to the > Palestinian uprising, Jewish groups charged that the U.S. betrayed > Israel and "its own honor." Rabbi MarcAngel, president of the > Rabbinical Council of America called "American complicity in this > hypocrisy...alarming." And he asked, ''Will oil and terrorism become > the arbiters of justice in the world?" (NYT 10.11.90)
> It is no accident that Rabbi Angel alluded to justice. For not love, > but justice is the foundation of Jewish ethics. Justice demands equal > application of the same standard one invokes to assess the acts of > one's friends and one's adversaries. If not, such lofty declamations > are relegated to the moral ash heap. Yet, to keep on Turkey's good > side, supporters of Israel have become accomplices in denying the > Armenian genocide. To stay in Turkey's good graces, Jews have remained > silent on Turkey's repression of more than 15 million Kurds, over half > the Kurds in the Middlc East, even as supporters of Israel court Kurds > in Iraq.
> Menachem Rosensaft, chairman of the International Network of Children > of Jewish Holocaust survivors had this to say about the responsibility > of Jews, "We must take our place at the forefront of the struggle > against racial hatred and oppression of any kind, and to accept the > heavy responsibility inherent in our unique id.entity." (NY Post > 5.28.88) But he also askedJews to "identify unambiguously with > Israel." And therein lies the dilemma.
> History to Live Down > Look at a few highlights of Turkey's history. The Ottoman forebears of > the modern Turks swooped down from outer Mongolia to conquer the > Middle East up to the borders of the Persian Empire and to occupy a > vast domain populated by Christians and Muslims. Details of the > conquests still live in dusty stacks in our nation's libraries, though > they remain an enigma to most Americans who still have trouble > locating that part of the world on the map. And what a dismal history > it is.
> The Janissaries, crack troops of the Ottoman Sultan, were Christian > boys forcibly taken from their mothers before they reached the age of > eight and raised as Muslims and defenders of the Empire. As men they > were turned loose to murder those who gave them life. History holds > other times when Christian mothers wept. For instance, on September > 18,1824, nearlytwo centuries ago, the Salem Observer informed > Massachusetts readers of "the cruelties of the Turks. On entering > Melenia, they put to the sword all the Christians above eight years of > age, and at Pergamos, they massacred in thirty eight hours, ten > thousand Christians." The New York Times of October 11,1917 noted that > before the first crusade, the Arabs had never persecuted Christian > pilgrims to Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre, "But the Seljukian Turks > changed all that when they occupied all Syria and the Holy Land in the > eleventh century. They persecuted Arab, Jew and Christian pilgrim > alike." And all their women wept.
> Five years later, American Consul to Smyrna, George Horton penned > these unhappy words: "I have often been impressed with the > hopelessness of making people who have not been eye-witnesses, > comprehend the dreadful character of the massacres which are carried > on by the Turks against the Christian population of the Orient...One > of the keenest impressions which I brought away with me from Smyrna > was a feeling of shame that I belonged to the human race...the Turks > were glutting freely their racial and religious lust for slaughter, > rape and plunder within a stone's throw of the Allied and American > battle-ships because they had been systematically led to believe that > they would not be interfered with...And this, the presence of those > battle-ships in Smyrna harbor, in the year of our Lord 1922, > impotently watching the last great scene in the tragedy of the > Christians of Turkey, was the saddest and most significant feature of > the whole picture...Christians were abandoned as no Christian power > desired to offend the Turk, from whom great benefits were > expected...It is a curious fact that the Turk is still able to deceive > Europeans, despite long observation of his tactics..." (Report on > Turkey, USA Consular Documents)
> Never mind the historical record. The record of Turkey in this century > alone is rife with massacres, atrocities and repression. Ask any > Armenian, Alevi Arab or Kurd. Yet, in 1986 after the massacre of Jews > in the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey's Permanent > Representative to the United Nations had no qualms about defending his > country's "historical record of religious tolerance and non > discrimination." This at a time when the total suppression of Kurds in > the country had reached its sixty first year and counting. "...all > Turkish citizens are under the protection of the state irrespective of > their religion, language, race and color," he proclaimed. As Jewish > women wept . (NYT 9.10.86)
> Of millions of Christians who fell under Ottoman dominion, Christians > of all kinds number less than 0.5% of Turkey's population today. Of > the more than 200,000 Jews in the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the > century, barely 20,000 remained to witness the synagogue massacre in > 1986. Even less now. And for more than sixty years after the genocide > of Armenians it has been the Kurds' turn to be assimilated - or else. > And still Kurdish women weep. The argument that the Turk of today is > not the Turk of yesterday is a subterfuge. Turkey has yet to > acknowledge the Armenian genocide. As this is written, the decimation > of Kurds is still underway in a country that is nowhere near the > secular democracy that Ankara and its allies claim.
> "Jews who were admitted into the Ottoman Empire bySultan Bayazid 11 > are of the opinion that claims of genocide in Jvrkey are ties. " David > Asseo, Istanbul's Chief Rabbi
> Relations between Israel and Turkey > Jews were undcrstandablygrateful to Ottoman Turks whogave them refuge > when they fled the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. Not that the Turks > were motivated by altruism. Time and again history records that Jews > were allowed into countries to finance a ruler's misadventures. Denied > land ownership, they served as craftsmen and money-lenders. When the > time for repayment came, more often than not theywere expelled. > Understandably Jews were appreciative when the non-Arab government of > Turkey officially recognized Israel's statehood in 1948. But they were > less pleased when Turkey reacted to Israel's incorporation of East > Jerusalem evicting the Israeli ambassador to Ankara and lowering > diplomatic exchanges between the two countries to the level of second > secretaries. However, as they looked to polish their image and further > their economic interests in the U.S. it wasn't long before the Turks > concluded that the Jewish lobby and Jewish media influence could be of > great use. Israel's supporters acquiesced, eager as they always are to > find a friend of any ilk in an otherwise unfriendly Middle East, > especially a friend blessed by the United States.
> George Gruen, the American Jewish Committee's Director of
> > by Vera Beaudin Saeedpour, Director of Research
> > Turkey's repressive Kurdish policy represents the antithesis of values > > Jews espouse. Yet the state of Israel has not only kept silent on > > Turkey's treatment of the Kurds, it has been in the forefront of > > promoting Turkey's image and Turkey's interests abroad. Prominent > > members of the Jewish community in the United States have worked to > > undermine recognition of thc Armenian genocide as well. In 1992 Jews > > and Turks held celebrations to mark 500 years of Turkish "tolerance." > > Why is this so? In large part because Jews equate their survival with > > that of Israel, a fragile state in a precarious part of the world. And > > this value takes precedence over the historical concern of Jews with > > ethical issues.
> > In this Israel is not alone. All nations are pre-occupied with > > strengthening their economies, enhancing their power, and assuring > > their survival at the expense of loftier values to which they tend to > > pay lip service when there is need to justify or obscure policies. > > Stateless people such as the Kurds are natural flotsam in the > > interplay of geopolitics, gaining attention and significance, or > > relegated to obscurity in almost direct proportion to their utility in > > furthering, or at least in not threatening the agendas of existing > > states. Such helps to explain why supporters of Israel have long been > > promoting the cause of the Iraqi Kurds while ignoring and suppressing > > the fact of Kurdish repression in Turkey.
> > History to Live Up To > > Remember Bitburg? TheJewish communitywas outragedwith President Reagan > > for agreeing to visit the graves of German soldiers. Elie Wiesel said, > > "That place, Mr. President, is not your place. Your place is with the > > victims of the SS..." Wiesel went on to talk of what he had learned in > > the past fortyyears: "I learned that in extreme situations when human > > lives and dignity are at stake, neutrality is a sin...Jews were killed > > by the enemy, but betrayed by their so-called Allies who found > > political reasons to justify their indifference or passivity...I have > > learned the danger of indifference, the crime of indifference." > > (Congressional Record, Vol. 131 No. 47, 4.22.85)
> > When Czech president, Vadav Havel, visited Kurt Waldheim in Austria, > > New York Times pundit A. H. Rosenthal mounted the moral high ground to > > remind him that "Now and then even a philosopher-hero should take > > account of the emotions and values of the people who do remember > > yesterday and its lessons."(NYT 9.29.90)
> > In 1990 when the U.S. moved to condemn Israel's response to the > > Palestinian uprising, Jewish groups charged that the U.S. betrayed > > Israel and "its own honor." Rabbi MarcAngel, president of the > > Rabbinical Council of America called "American complicity in this > > hypocrisy...alarming." And he asked, ''Will oil and terrorism become > > the arbiters of justice in the world?" (NYT 10.11.90)
> > It is no accident that Rabbi Angel alluded to justice. For not love, > > but justice is the foundation of Jewish ethics. Justice demands equal > > application of the same standard one invokes to assess the acts of > > one's friends and one's adversaries. If not, such lofty declamations > > are relegated to the moral ash heap. Yet, to keep on Turkey's good > > side, supporters of Israel have become accomplices in denying the > > Armenian genocide. To stay in Turkey's good graces, Jews have remained > > silent on Turkey's repression of more than 15 million Kurds, over half > > the Kurds in the Middlc East, even as supporters of Israel court Kurds > > in Iraq.
> > Menachem Rosensaft, chairman of the International Network of Children > > of Jewish Holocaust survivors had this to say about the responsibility > > of Jews, "We must take our place at the forefront of the struggle > > against racial hatred and oppression of any kind, and to accept the > > heavy responsibility inherent in our unique id.entity." (NY Post > > 5.28.88) But he also askedJews to "identify unambiguously with > > Israel." And therein lies the dilemma.
> > History to Live Down > > Look at a few highlights of Turkey's history. The Ottoman forebears of > > the modern Turks swooped down from outer Mongolia to conquer the > > Middle East up to the borders of the Persian Empire and to occupy a > > vast domain populated by Christians and Muslims. Details of the > > conquests still live in dusty stacks in our nation's libraries, though > > they remain an enigma to most Americans who still have trouble > > locating that part of the world on the map. And what a dismal history > > it is.
> > The Janissaries, crack troops of the Ottoman Sultan, were Christian > > boys forcibly taken from their mothers before they reached the age of > > eight and raised as Muslims and defenders of the Empire. As men they > > were turned loose to murder those who gave them life. History holds > > other times when Christian mothers wept. For instance, on September > > 18,1824, nearlytwo centuries ago, the Salem Observer informed > > Massachusetts readers of "the cruelties of the Turks. On entering > > Melenia, they put to the sword all the Christians above eight years of > > age, and at Pergamos, they massacred in thirty eight hours, ten > > thousand Christians." The New York Times of October 11,1917 noted that > > before the first crusade, the Arabs had never persecuted Christian > > pilgrims to Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre, "But the Seljukian Turks > > changed all that when they occupied all Syria and the Holy Land in the > > eleventh century. They persecuted Arab, Jew and Christian pilgrim > > alike." And all their women wept.
> > Five years later, American Consul to Smyrna, George Horton penned > > these unhappy words: "I have often been impressed with the > > hopelessness of making people who have not been eye-witnesses, > > comprehend the dreadful character of the massacres which are carried > > on by the Turks against the Christian population of the Orient...One > > of the keenest impressions which I brought away with me from Smyrna > > was a feeling of shame that I belonged to the human race...the Turks > > were glutting freely their racial and religious lust for slaughter, > > rape and plunder within a stone's throw of the Allied and American > > battle-ships because they had been systematically led to believe that > > they would not be interfered with...And this, the presence of those > > battle-ships in Smyrna harbor, in the year of our Lord 1922, > > impotently watching the last great scene in the tragedy of the > > Christians of Turkey, was the saddest and most significant feature of > > the whole picture...Christians were abandoned as no Christian power > > desired to offend the Turk, from whom great benefits were > > expected...It is a curious fact that the Turk is still able to deceive > > Europeans, despite long observation of his tactics..." (Report on > > Turkey, USA Consular Documents)
> > Never mind the historical record. The record of Turkey in this century > > alone is rife with massacres, atrocities and repression. Ask any > > Armenian, Alevi Arab or Kurd. Yet, in 1986 after the massacre of Jews > > in the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey's Permanent > > Representative to the United Nations had no qualms about defending his > > country's "historical record of religious tolerance and non > > discrimination." This at a time when the total suppression of Kurds in > > the country had reached its sixty first year and counting. "...all > > Turkish citizens are under the protection of the state irrespective of > > their religion, language, race and color," he proclaimed. As Jewish > > women wept . (NYT 9.10.86)
> > Of millions of Christians who fell under Ottoman dominion, Christians > > of all kinds number less than 0.5% of Turkey's population today. Of > > the more than 200,000 Jews in the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the > > century, barely 20,000 remained to witness the synagogue massacre in > > 1986. Even less now. And for more than sixty years after the genocide > > of Armenians it has been the Kurds' turn to be assimilated - or else. > > And still Kurdish women weep. The argument that the Turk of today is > > not the Turk of yesterday is a subterfuge. Turkey has yet to > > acknowledge the Armenian genocide. As this is written, the decimation > > of Kurds is still underway in a country that is nowhere near the > > secular democracy that Ankara and its allies claim.
> > "Jews who were admitted into the Ottoman Empire bySultan Bayazid 11 > > are of the opinion that claims of genocide in Jvrkey are ties. " David > > Asseo, Istanbul's Chief Rabbi
> > Relations between Israel and Turkey > > Jews were undcrstandablygrateful to Ottoman Turks whogave them refuge > > when they fled the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. Not that the Turks > > were motivated by altruism. Time and again history records that Jews > > were allowed into countries to finance a ruler's misadventures. Denied > > land ownership, they served as craftsmen and money-lenders. When the > > time for repayment came, more often than not theywere expelled. > > Understandably Jews were appreciative when the non-Arab government of > > Turkey officially recognized Israel's statehood in 1948. But they were > > less pleased when Turkey reacted to Israel's incorporation of East
> > > by Vera Beaudin Saeedpour, Director of Research
> > > Turkey's repressive Kurdish policy represents the antithesis of values > > > Jews espouse. Yet the state of Israel has not only kept silent on > > > Turkey's treatment of the Kurds, it has been in the forefront of > > > promoting Turkey's image and Turkey's interests abroad. Prominent > > > members of the Jewish community in the United States have worked to > > > undermine recognition of thc Armenian genocide as well. In 1992 Jews > > > and Turks held celebrations to mark 500 years of Turkish "tolerance." > > > Why is this so? In large part because Jews equate their survival with > > > that of Israel, a fragile state in a precarious part of the world. And > > > this value takes precedence over the historical concern of Jews with > > > ethical issues.
> > > In this Israel is not alone. All nations are pre-occupied with > > > strengthening their economies, enhancing their power, and assuring > > > their survival at the expense of loftier values to which they tend to > > > pay lip service when there is need to justify or obscure policies. > > > Stateless people such as the Kurds are natural flotsam in the > > > interplay of geopolitics, gaining attention and significance, or > > > relegated to obscurity in almost direct proportion to their utility in > > > furthering, or at least in not threatening the agendas of existing > > > states. Such helps to explain why supporters of Israel have long been > > > promoting the cause of the Iraqi Kurds while ignoring and suppressing > > > the fact of Kurdish repression in Turkey.
> > > History to Live Up To > > > Remember Bitburg? TheJewish communitywas outragedwith President Reagan > > > for agreeing to visit the graves of German soldiers. Elie Wiesel said, > > > "That place, Mr. President, is not your place. Your place is with the > > > victims of the SS..." Wiesel went on to talk of what he had learned in > > > the past fortyyears: "I learned that in extreme situations when human > > > lives and dignity are at stake, neutrality is a sin...Jews were killed > > > by the enemy, but betrayed by their so-called Allies who found > > > political reasons to justify their indifference or passivity...I have > > > learned the danger of indifference, the crime of indifference." > > > (Congressional Record, Vol. 131 No. 47, 4.22.85)
> > > When Czech president, Vadav Havel, visited Kurt Waldheim in Austria, > > > New York Times pundit A. H. Rosenthal mounted the moral high ground to > > > remind him that "Now and then even a philosopher-hero should take > > > account of the emotions and values of the people who do remember > > > yesterday and its lessons."(NYT 9.29.90)
> > > In 1990 when the U.S. moved to condemn Israel's response to the > > > Palestinian uprising, Jewish groups charged that the U.S. betrayed > > > Israel and "its own honor." Rabbi MarcAngel, president of the > > > Rabbinical Council of America called "American complicity in this > > > hypocrisy...alarming." And he asked, ''Will oil and terrorism become > > > the arbiters of justice in the world?" (NYT 10.11.90)
> > > It is no accident that Rabbi Angel alluded to justice. For not love, > > > but justice is the foundation of Jewish ethics. Justice demands equal > > > application of the same standard one invokes to assess the acts of > > > one's friends and one's adversaries. If not, such lofty declamations > > > are relegated to the moral ash heap. Yet, to keep on Turkey's good > > > side, supporters of Israel have become accomplices in denying the > > > Armenian genocide. To stay in Turkey's good graces, Jews have remained > > > silent on Turkey's repression of more than 15 million Kurds, over half > > > the Kurds in the Middlc East, even as supporters of Israel court Kurds > > > in Iraq.
> > > Menachem Rosensaft, chairman of the International Network of Children > > > of Jewish Holocaust survivors had this to say about the responsibility > > > of Jews, "We must take our place at the forefront of the struggle > > > against racial hatred and oppression of any kind, and to accept the > > > heavy responsibility inherent in our unique id.entity." (NY Post > > > 5.28.88) But he also askedJews to "identify unambiguously with > > > Israel." And therein lies the dilemma.
> > > History to Live Down > > > Look at a few highlights of Turkey's history. The Ottoman forebears of > > > the modern Turks swooped down from outer Mongolia to conquer the > > > Middle East up to the borders of the Persian Empire and to occupy a > > > vast domain populated by Christians and Muslims. Details of the > > > conquests still live in dusty stacks in our nation's libraries, though > > > they remain an enigma to most Americans who still have trouble > > > locating that part of the world on the map. And what a dismal history > > > it is.
> > > The Janissaries, crack troops of the Ottoman Sultan, were Christian > > > boys forcibly taken from their mothers before they reached the age of > > > eight and raised as Muslims and defenders of the Empire. As men they > > > were turned loose to murder those who gave them life. History holds > > > other times when Christian mothers wept. For instance, on September > > > 18,1824, nearlytwo centuries ago, the Salem Observer informed > > > Massachusetts readers of "the cruelties of the Turks. On entering > > > Melenia, they put to the sword all the Christians above eight years of > > > age, and at Pergamos, they massacred in thirty eight hours, ten > > > thousand Christians." The New York Times of October 11,1917 noted that > > > before the first crusade, the Arabs had never persecuted Christian > > > pilgrims to Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre, "But the Seljukian Turks > > > changed all that when they occupied all Syria and the Holy Land in the > > > eleventh century. They persecuted Arab, Jew and Christian pilgrim > > > alike." And all their women wept.
> > > Five years later, American Consul to Smyrna, George Horton penned > > > these unhappy words: "I have often been impressed with the > > > hopelessness of making people who have not been eye-witnesses, > > > comprehend the dreadful character of the massacres which are carried > > > on by the Turks against the Christian population of the Orient...One > > > of the keenest impressions which I brought away with me from Smyrna > > > was a feeling of shame that I belonged to the human race...the Turks > > > were glutting freely their racial and religious lust for slaughter, > > > rape and plunder within a stone's throw of the Allied and American > > > battle-ships because they had been systematically led to believe that > > > they would not be interfered with...And this, the presence of those > > > battle-ships in Smyrna harbor, in the year of our Lord 1922, > > > impotently watching the last great scene in the tragedy of the > > > Christians of Turkey, was the saddest and most significant feature of > > > the whole picture...Christians were abandoned as no Christian power > > > desired to offend the Turk, from whom great benefits were > > > expected...It is a curious fact that the Turk is still able to deceive > > > Europeans, despite long observation of his tactics..." (Report on > > > Turkey, USA Consular Documents)
> > > Never mind the historical record. The record of Turkey in this century > > > alone is rife with massacres, atrocities and repression. Ask any > > > Armenian, Alevi Arab or Kurd. Yet, in 1986 after the massacre of Jews > > > in the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey's Permanent > > > Representative to the United Nations had no qualms about defending his > > > country's "historical record of religious tolerance and non > > > discrimination." This at a time when the total suppression of Kurds in > > > the country had reached its sixty first year and counting. "...all > > > Turkish citizens are under the protection of the state irrespective of > > > their religion, language, race and color," he proclaimed. As Jewish > > > women wept . (NYT 9.10.86)
> > > Of millions of Christians who fell under Ottoman dominion, Christians > > > of all kinds number less than 0.5% of Turkey's population today. Of > > > the more than 200,000 Jews in the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the > > > century, barely 20,000 remained to witness the synagogue massacre in > > > 1986. Even less now. And for more than sixty years after the genocide > > > of Armenians it has been the Kurds' turn to be assimilated - or else. > > > And still Kurdish women weep. The argument that the Turk of today is > > > not the Turk of yesterday is a subterfuge. Turkey has yet to > > > acknowledge the Armenian genocide. As this is written, the decimation > > > of Kurds is still underway in a country that is nowhere near the > > > secular democracy that Ankara and its allies claim.
> > > "Jews who were admitted into the Ottoman Empire bySultan Bayazid 11 > > > are of the opinion that claims of genocide in Jvrkey are ties. " David > > > Asseo, Istanbul's Chief Rabbi
> > > Relations between Israel and Turkey > > > Jews were undcrstandablygrateful to Ottoman Turks whogave them refuge > > > when they fled the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. Not that the
> "REAL" <nospamreal...@hotmail.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag > news:3DFEDDE0.A11EEE2F@hotmail.com... > > You are in no condition to give advise when it is crystal clear that you > are > > incapable of reading and comprehending english.
> > Now I suggest you enrol yourself in a course to develop at least some > reading > > and comprehension skills otherwise don't bother replying.
> > "Ömer Yigit" wrote:
> > > Copy-Paste..... > > > or write bullshit.. like aliasker
> > > > by Vera Beaudin Saeedpour, Director of Research
> > > > Turkey's repressive Kurdish policy represents the antithesis of values > > > > Jews espouse. Yet the state of Israel has not only kept silent on > > > > Turkey's treatment of the Kurds, it has been in the forefront of > > > > promoting Turkey's image and Turkey's interests abroad. Prominent > > > > members of the Jewish community in the United States have worked to > > > > undermine recognition of thc Armenian genocide as well. In 1992 Jews > > > > and Turks held celebrations to mark 500 years of Turkish "tolerance." > > > > Why is this so? In large part because Jews equate their survival with > > > > that of Israel, a fragile state in a precarious part of the world. And > > > > this value takes precedence over the historical concern of Jews with > > > > ethical issues.
> > > > In this Israel is not alone. All nations are pre-occupied with > > > > strengthening their economies, enhancing their power, and assuring > > > > their survival at the expense of loftier values to which they tend to > > > > pay lip service when there is need to justify or obscure policies. > > > > Stateless people such as the Kurds are natural flotsam in the > > > > interplay of geopolitics, gaining attention and significance, or > > > > relegated to obscurity in almost direct proportion to their utility in > > > > furthering, or at least in not threatening the agendas of existing > > > > states. Such helps to explain why supporters of Israel have long been > > > > promoting the cause of the Iraqi Kurds while ignoring and suppressing > > > > the fact of Kurdish repression in Turkey.
> > > > History to Live Up To > > > > Remember Bitburg? TheJewish communitywas outragedwith President Reagan > > > > for agreeing to visit the graves of German soldiers. Elie Wiesel said, > > > > "That place, Mr. President, is not your place. Your place is with the > > > > victims of the SS..." Wiesel went on to talk of what he had learned in > > > > the past fortyyears: "I learned that in extreme situations when human > > > > lives and dignity are at stake, neutrality is a sin...Jews were killed > > > > by the enemy, but betrayed by their so-called Allies who found > > > > political reasons to justify their indifference or passivity...I have > > > > learned the danger of indifference, the crime of indifference." > > > > (Congressional Record, Vol. 131 No. 47, 4.22.85)
> > > > When Czech president, Vadav Havel, visited Kurt Waldheim in Austria, > > > > New York Times pundit A. H. Rosenthal mounted the moral high ground to > > > > remind him that "Now and then even a philosopher-hero should take > > > > account of the emotions and values of the people who do remember > > > > yesterday and its lessons."(NYT 9.29.90)
> > > > In 1990 when the U.S. moved to condemn Israel's response to the > > > > Palestinian uprising, Jewish groups charged that the U.S. betrayed > > > > Israel and "its own honor." Rabbi MarcAngel, president of the > > > > Rabbinical Council of America called "American complicity in this > > > > hypocrisy...alarming." And he asked, ''Will oil and terrorism become > > > > the arbiters of justice in the world?" (NYT 10.11.90)
> > > > It is no accident that Rabbi Angel alluded to justice. For not love, > > > > but justice is the foundation of Jewish ethics. Justice demands equal > > > > application of the same standard one invokes to assess the acts of > > > > one's friends and one's adversaries. If not, such lofty declamations > > > > are relegated to the moral ash heap. Yet, to keep on Turkey's good > > > > side, supporters of Israel have become accomplices in denying the > > > > Armenian genocide. To stay in Turkey's good graces, Jews have remained > > > > silent on Turkey's repression of more than 15 million Kurds, over half > > > > the Kurds in the Middlc East, even as supporters of Israel court Kurds > > > > in Iraq.
> > > > Menachem Rosensaft, chairman of the International Network of Children > > > > of Jewish Holocaust survivors had this to say about the responsibility > > > > of Jews, "We must take our place at the forefront of the struggle > > > > against racial hatred and oppression of any kind, and to accept the > > > > heavy responsibility inherent in our unique id.entity." (NY Post > > > > 5.28.88) But he also askedJews to "identify unambiguously with > > > > Israel." And therein lies the dilemma.
> > > > History to Live Down > > > > Look at a few highlights of Turkey's history. The Ottoman forebears of > > > > the modern Turks swooped down from outer Mongolia to conquer the > > > > Middle East up to the borders of the Persian Empire and to occupy a > > > > vast domain populated by Christians and Muslims. Details of the > > > > conquests still live in dusty stacks in our nation's libraries, though > > > > they remain an enigma to most Americans who still have trouble > > > > locating that part of the world on the map. And what a dismal history > > > > it is.
> > > > The Janissaries, crack troops of the Ottoman Sultan, were Christian > > > > boys forcibly taken from their mothers before they reached the age of > > > > eight and raised as Muslims and defenders of the Empire. As men they > > > > were turned loose to murder those who gave them life. History holds > > > > other times when Christian mothers wept. For instance, on September > > > > 18,1824, nearlytwo centuries ago, the Salem Observer informed > > > > Massachusetts readers of "the cruelties of the Turks. On entering > > > > Melenia, they put to the sword all the Christians above eight years of > > > > age, and at Pergamos, they massacred in thirty eight hours, ten > > > > thousand Christians." The New York Times of October 11,1917 noted that > > > > before the first crusade, the Arabs had never persecuted Christian > > > > pilgrims to Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre, "But the Seljukian Turks > > > > changed all that when they occupied all Syria and the Holy Land in the > > > > eleventh century. They persecuted Arab, Jew and Christian pilgrim > > > > alike." And all their women wept.
> > > > Five years later, American Consul to Smyrna, George Horton penned > > > > these unhappy words: "I have often been impressed with the > > > > hopelessness of making people who have not been eye-witnesses, > > > > comprehend the dreadful character of the massacres which are carried > > > > on by the Turks against the Christian population of the Orient...One > > > > of the keenest impressions which I brought away with me from Smyrna > > > > was a feeling of shame that I belonged to the human race...the Turks > > > > were glutting freely their racial and religious lust for slaughter, > > > > rape and plunder within a stone's throw of the Allied and American > > > > battle-ships because they had been systematically led to believe that > > > > they would not be interfered with...And this, the presence of those > > > > battle-ships in Smyrna harbor, in the year of our Lord 1922, > > > > impotently watching the last great scene in the tragedy of the > > > > Christians of Turkey, was the saddest and most significant feature of > > > > the whole picture...Christians were abandoned as no Christian power > > > > desired to offend the Turk, from whom great benefits were > > > > expected...It is a curious fact that the Turk is still able to deceive > > > > Europeans, despite long observation of his tactics..." (Report on > > > > Turkey, USA Consular Documents)
> > > > Never mind the historical record. The record of Turkey in this century > > > > alone is rife with massacres, atrocities and repression. Ask any > > > > Armenian, Alevi Arab or Kurd. Yet, in 1986 after the massacre of Jews > > > > in the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey's Permanent > > > > Representative to the United Nations had no qualms about defending his > > > > country's "historical record of religious tolerance and non > > > > discrimination." This at a time when the total suppression of Kurds in > > > > the country had reached its sixty first year and counting. "...all > > > > Turkish citizens are under the protection of the state irrespective of > > > > their religion, language, race and color," he proclaimed. As Jewish > > > > women wept . (NYT 9.10.86)
> > > > Of millions of Christians who fell under Ottoman dominion, Christians > > > > of all kinds number less than 0.5% of Turkey's population today. Of > > > > the more than 200,000 Jews in the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the > > > > century, barely 20,000 remained to witness the synagogue massacre in > > > > 1986. Even less now. And for more than sixty years after the genocide > > > > of Armenians it has been the Kurds' turn to be assimilated - or else. > > > > And still Kurdish women weep. The argument that the Turk of today is > > > > not the Turk of yesterday is a subterfuge. Turkey has yet to > > > > acknowledge the Armenian genocide. As this is written, the decimation > > > > of Kurds is still underway in a country that is nowhere near the > > > > secular
Ali Asker wrote: > " mer Yigit" <ooyi...@web.de> wrote in message <news:atncf9$l8r$1@nx6.HRZ.Uni-Dortmund.DE>... > > From your new posting everybody can see that you aren t better than ali > > asker... > > be quit!
> of what?
It's obvious Omer is still not making any sense. Ignore him and hopefully he will take those lessons.
> > "REAL" <nospamreal...@hotmail.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag > > news:3DFEDDE0.A11EEE2F@hotmail.com... > > > You are in no condition to give advise when it is crystal clear that you > > are > > > incapable of reading and comprehending english.
> > > Now I suggest you enrol yourself in a course to develop at least some > > reading > > > and comprehension skills otherwise don't bother replying.
> > > "Ömer Yigit" wrote:
> > > > Copy-Paste..... > > > > or write bullshit.. like aliasker
> > > > > by Vera Beaudin Saeedpour, Director of Research
> > > > > Turkey's repressive Kurdish policy represents the antithesis of values > > > > > Jews espouse. Yet the state of Israel has not only kept silent on > > > > > Turkey's treatment of the Kurds, it has been in the forefront of > > > > > promoting Turkey's image and Turkey's interests abroad. Prominent > > > > > members of the Jewish community in the United States have worked to > > > > > undermine recognition of thc Armenian genocide as well. In 1992 Jews > > > > > and Turks held celebrations to mark 500 years of Turkish "tolerance." > > > > > Why is this so? In large part because Jews equate their survival with > > > > > that of Israel, a fragile state in a precarious part of the world. And > > > > > this value takes precedence over the historical concern of Jews with > > > > > ethical issues.
> > > > > In this Israel is not alone. All nations are pre-occupied with > > > > > strengthening their economies, enhancing their power, and assuring > > > > > their survival at the expense of loftier values to which they tend to > > > > > pay lip service when there is need to justify or obscure policies. > > > > > Stateless people such as the Kurds are natural flotsam in the > > > > > interplay of geopolitics, gaining attention and significance, or > > > > > relegated to obscurity in almost direct proportion to their utility in > > > > > furthering, or at least in not threatening the agendas of existing > > > > > states. Such helps to explain why supporters of Israel have long been > > > > > promoting the cause of the Iraqi Kurds while ignoring and suppressing > > > > > the fact of Kurdish repression in Turkey.
> > > > > History to Live Up To > > > > > Remember Bitburg? TheJewish communitywas outragedwith President Reagan > > > > > for agreeing to visit the graves of German soldiers. Elie Wiesel said, > > > > > "That place, Mr. President, is not your place. Your place is with the > > > > > victims of the SS..." Wiesel went on to talk of what he had learned in > > > > > the past fortyyears: "I learned that in extreme situations when human > > > > > lives and dignity are at stake, neutrality is a sin...Jews were killed > > > > > by the enemy, but betrayed by their so-called Allies who found > > > > > political reasons to justify their indifference or passivity...I have > > > > > learned the danger of indifference, the crime of indifference." > > > > > (Congressional Record, Vol. 131 No. 47, 4.22.85)
> > > > > When Czech president, Vadav Havel, visited Kurt Waldheim in Austria, > > > > > New York Times pundit A. H. Rosenthal mounted the moral high ground to > > > > > remind him that "Now and then even a philosopher-hero should take > > > > > account of the emotions and values of the people who do remember > > > > > yesterday and its lessons."(NYT 9.29.90)
> > > > > In 1990 when the U.S. moved to condemn Israel's response to the > > > > > Palestinian uprising, Jewish groups charged that the U.S. betrayed > > > > > Israel and "its own honor." Rabbi MarcAngel, president of the > > > > > Rabbinical Council of America called "American complicity in this > > > > > hypocrisy...alarming." And he asked, ''Will oil and terrorism become > > > > > the arbiters of justice in the world?" (NYT 10.11.90)
> > > > > It is no accident that Rabbi Angel alluded to justice. For not love, > > > > > but justice is the foundation of Jewish ethics. Justice demands equal > > > > > application of the same standard one invokes to assess the acts of > > > > > one's friends and one's adversaries. If not, such lofty declamations > > > > > are relegated to the moral ash heap. Yet, to keep on Turkey's good > > > > > side, supporters of Israel have become accomplices in denying the > > > > > Armenian genocide. To stay in Turkey's good graces, Jews have remained > > > > > silent on Turkey's repression of more than 15 million Kurds, over half > > > > > the Kurds in the Middlc East, even as supporters of Israel court Kurds > > > > > in Iraq.
> > > > > Menachem Rosensaft, chairman of the International Network of Children > > > > > of Jewish Holocaust survivors had this to say about the responsibility > > > > > of Jews, "We must take our place at the forefront of the struggle > > > > > against racial hatred and oppression of any kind, and to accept the > > > > > heavy responsibility inherent in our unique id.entity." (NY Post > > > > > 5.28.88) But he also askedJews to "identify unambiguously with > > > > > Israel." And therein lies the dilemma.
> > > > > History to Live Down > > > > > Look at a few highlights of Turkey's history. The Ottoman forebears of > > > > > the modern Turks swooped down from outer Mongolia to conquer the > > > > > Middle East up to the borders of the Persian Empire and to occupy a > > > > > vast domain populated by Christians and Muslims. Details of the > > > > > conquests still live in dusty stacks in our nation's libraries, though > > > > > they remain an enigma to most Americans who still have trouble > > > > > locating that part of the world on the map. And what a dismal history > > > > > it is.
> > > > > The Janissaries, crack troops of the Ottoman Sultan, were Christian > > > > > boys forcibly taken from their mothers before they reached the age of > > > > > eight and raised as Muslims and defenders of the Empire. As men they > > > > > were turned loose to murder those who gave them life. History holds > > > > > other times when Christian mothers wept. For instance, on September > > > > > 18,1824, nearlytwo centuries ago, the Salem Observer informed > > > > > Massachusetts readers of "the cruelties of the Turks. On entering > > > > > Melenia, they put to the sword all the Christians above eight years of > > > > > age, and at Pergamos, they massacred in thirty eight hours, ten > > > > > thousand Christians." The New York Times of October 11,1917 noted that > > > > > before the first crusade, the Arabs had never persecuted Christian > > > > > pilgrims to Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre, "But the Seljukian Turks > > > > > changed all that when they occupied all Syria and the Holy Land in the > > > > > eleventh century. They persecuted Arab, Jew and Christian pilgrim > > > > > alike." And all their women wept.
> > > > > Five years later, American Consul to Smyrna, George Horton penned > > > > > these unhappy words: "I have often been impressed with the > > > > > hopelessness of making people who have not been eye-witnesses, > > > > > comprehend the dreadful character of the massacres which are carried > > > > > on by the Turks against the Christian population of the Orient...One > > > > > of the keenest impressions which I brought away with me from Smyrna > > > > > was a feeling of shame that I belonged to the human race...the Turks > > > > > were glutting freely their racial and religious lust for slaughter, > > > > > rape and plunder within a stone's throw of the Allied and American > > > > > battle-ships because they had been systematically led to believe that > > > > > they would not be interfered with...And this, the presence of those > > > > > battle-ships in Smyrna harbor, in the year of our Lord 1922, > > > > > impotently watching the last great scene in the tragedy of the > > > > > Christians of Turkey, was the saddest and most significant feature of > > > > > the whole picture...Christians were abandoned as no Christian power > > > > > desired to offend the Turk, from whom great benefits were > > > > > expected...It is a curious fact that the Turk is still able to deceive > > > > > Europeans, despite long observation of his tactics..." (Report on > > > > > Turkey, USA Consular Documents)
> > > > > Never mind the historical record. The record of Turkey in this century > > > > > alone is rife with massacres, atrocities and repression. Ask any > > > > > Armenian, Alevi Arab or Kurd. Yet, in 1986 after the massacre of Jews > > > > > in the Neve Shalom synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey's Permanent > > > > > Representative to the United Nations had no qualms about defending his > > > > > country's "historical record of religious tolerance and non > > > > > discrimination." This at a time when the total suppression of Kurds in > > > > > the country had reached its sixty first year and counting. "...all > > > > > Turkish citizens are under the protection of the state irrespective of > > > > > their religion, language, race and color," he proclaimed. As Jewish > > > > > women wept . (NYT 9.10.86)
> > > > > Of millions of Christians who fell under Ottoman dominion, Christians > > > > > of all kinds number less than 0.5% of Turkey's population today. Of > > > > > the more than 200,000 Jews in the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the > > > > > century, barely 20,000 remained to witness the synagogue massacre in > > > > > 1986. Even less now.
