Armenian-Israelis protest arms sales to Azerbaijan
Israel has kept a low profile on its military dealings with Azerbaijan, but Armenian-Israeli activists have taken the issue to the streets.
Dozens of Armenians demonstrated at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv against Israeli arms sales to Azerbaijan Nov. 6. The protesters carried signs reading "Stop Azerbaijani and Turkish aggression now," "Double standards" and "Armenia fights against terrorism." Some people sang traditional Armenian songs. Several carried signs featuring Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and reading, "Don’t let history repeat itself."
Protesters who arrived to the square explained that they demand Israel stop its arms sale to Azerbaijan and that Israeli authorities condemn what they consider Turkish-Azeri aggression, especially Turkish transfer of Syrian jihadists to fight on the Azeri side. They ask Israel to recognize the self-declared Republic of Artsakh, saying it is the only way to end the bloody Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Friday's demonstration was not the first. Activists have been protesting for several weeks now in different locations across Israel. Demonstrations took place in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa, where Armenian communities traditionally reside, as well as in other places.
On Oct. 27, activists demonstrated outside the Tel Aviv offices of Channel 2 parent company Reshet-Keshet, demanding media coverage of Israeli arms sales to Azerbaijan. On Oct. 22, Israelis of Armenian origins demonstrated outside the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. The Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem posted on Facebook, "Armenians of Israel protest against Israel's arms sales and supply to Azerbaijan and condemn the Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh and Armenia demanding the recognition of Artsakh as a free and independent republic." On Nov. 2, Armenians marched in the streets of Jerusalem carrying Armenian flags.
