Arameans to seek
recognition outside israel
By Tzvi Zucker
ERUSALEM — Lost in the uproar over the proposed Nationality Bill
has been the historic recognition of Arameans as a separate nationality
in Israel. Israel is the first country in the world to recognize the
Arameans.
Israel’s historic recognition has empowered and emboldened
Arameans to seek better treatment in other countries they live in.
Tomorrow (Wednesday November 26), the World Council of Arameans (WCA)
will be addressing the Seventh Session of the Forum on Minority Issues
at the United Nations in Geneva. Shadi Halul, an Aramean from Gush Halav
in the Galilee, will be traveling to Geneva in order to address the
assembly. His two year old child was the first person to be registered
under the new identity in Israel, one month ago. Halul was invited by
the WCA.
Part of the statement of the WCA will read as follows: “We,
Aramean Christian Israelis, want all the nations of the world to see the
historic democratic move of Israel in recognizing the nationality of
‘Aramean’ within the Christian citizens of the Jewish and democratic
Israel. We look specifically to Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon to
recognize the Aramean people in their countries, to protect the minority
in their historic homelands, and their basic democratic rights, and
preserve their culture, language, and history.”
Johnny Messo, the President of the World Council of Arameans,
emphasized “We greatly commend Israel for being the first state in the
world to recognize our people in keeping with international law. This
fantastic news has had a major impact on the global Aramean population.
It encourages us to continue our legal struggle for recognition by our
home countries of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.”
“The only safe haven for our people in the entire region is
Israel,” Jahn Zaknoun, spokesperson of the Christian Aramaic Society in
Israel told Tazpit News Agency. “It is the only place we are
demographically growing in the entire region. In 1948 there were between
50,000 and 70,000 Arameans in the country, and today there are 130,000
Arameans.”
The Arameans, while a minority in Israel, are thankful for the
democratic nature of the country, and seek to be valued members of the
society. “We want our people to be a useful and productive part of the
country, to serve in the army, as anyone who loves this country as it is
would do,” Zaknoun added. “Israel is the only country in the region
where everyone who comes here is integrated into society. Anyone who
cherishes freedom, of life and of speech, loves Israel.”
*
Zucker is a staff writer for the Tazpit News Agency in Israel
http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2014/11/25/arameans-seek-recognition-outside-israel/ |