The Role of Sub-State Actors: Turkish Jewish Elite and Israel’s Alignment with Turkey’s Denial of the Armenian Genocide (1970s-1980s)

• In Event: Jewish Perspectives on the Republic of Turkey: Past and Present

Abstract

During the 1970s and 1980s, Israel’s stance on the Armenian genocide was closely tied to its support for Turkey’s denialist policy. This era marked the beginning of international denial of the Armenian genocide, with Israel aligning its geopolitical strategy in the Middle East through collaboration with Turkey. This study investigates the complex involvement of sub-state actors in shaping Israel’s stance on the contested memories of the Armenian genocide, focusing on the roles of the Turkish Jewish elite during the late 1970s and 1980s in strengthening Israel-Turkey relations.
The perceived influence of the Turkish Jewish elite on US foreign policy regarding the Armenian genocide is analyzed, highlighting successive Turkish governments’ emphasis on the positive treatment of Jews in the Ottoman Empire and alleged Jewish rescue during World War II. I show how this narrative was strategically employed to counter Armenian genocide claims during this period. This paper also re-examines how Turkey’s national myth of rescuing Sephardic Jews during the Holocaust was utilized to advocate against the recognition of the Armenian genocide.

Author

• Eldad Ben Aharon, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)