Azerbaijan’s Jewish communities urge Knesset not to recognise Armenian genocide

Leaders of three Jewish communities in Azerbaijan have called on members of Israel’s Knesset not to support an initiative to recognise the Armenian genocide.

The appeal was signed by Milikh Yevdayev, head of the Mountain Jews community in Baku, Alexander Sharovsky, chairman of the Ashkenazi Jewish community, and Zamir Isayev, head of the Sephardic Jewish community.

The signatories said such a move could negatively affect efforts to establish peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

They said the Jewish community in Azerbaijan has lived for centuries in an atmosphere of freedom and mutual respect and noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are based on strategic partnership and mutual trust.

The community leaders added that complex historical issues should remain a matter for academic research rather than political decisions and expressed hope that Israeli lawmakers would take into account the possible impact on relations between friendly nations.

N.Tebrizli