In Jerusalem, on Thursday, 22 October 2020, an unprecedented protest rally took place in front of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The protest was organized by the United Committee of Jerusalem, of which the Ramgavar Azadagan chapter of Jerusalem and the HEM, the Armenian Cause committee of the ARF, the Homenetmen, the Armenian Relief Society, the United Armenian Fund, as well as organizations representing the Armenian community of Israel are members.
Approximately 1,200 members of the Armenian community from Jerusalem and various regions of Israel participated in the protest. Participants carried Armenian and Artsakh flags and hundreds of placards reading: “Stop Israel’s arms sales to Azerbaijan,” “Recognize the independence of the Republic of Artsakh,” “Prevent a new genocide,” and other slogans presenting the Armenian demand.
Representatives of the Assyrian community and a large number of Jews also took part in the protest.
The protest began with the national anthem of the Republic of Armenia, after which the vice-chairman of the ADL Central Board, Hagop Andresyan, delivered the message of the day, stating the position of the ADL and the HEM regarding the Azerbaijani-Turkish terrorist attack on Artsakh, condemning it, and presenting the main demand of the day: recognizing the independence of Artsakh and halting arms sales to Azerbaijan.
Representatives of the other organizations also spoke with the same call and demand, in various languages, all of whom criticized the sale of Israeli weapons to Azerbaijan and expressed support for the demand for the recognition of the Republic of Artsakh.
National songs were also sung, with all those present joining in.
The protest, which took place under a special permit from the police, concluded with the Lord’s Prayer.
Here we wish to note that the youth of the ADL and the HEM did their commendable work together with the other organizations for the success of the protest.
Correspondence
