Giorgio Bernardelli

Journalist. Editor-in-Chief @AsiaNewsIT. Tweets about Middle East, Holy Land, Vatican and religions

[Kegham Balian @kbalian90]

BREAKING: Jerusalemite Armenian community leader Hagop Djernazian delivers a scathing indictment of Israel’s decades-long refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide, arguing that what was dismissed for years as diplomatically “inconvenient” is now being repackaged as a moral imperative.

His full statement: Part 1/2

Following Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's announcement that the Government of Israel will discuss recognizing the Armenian Genocide, I feel compelled to share some thoughts and facts for a clearer picture of the issue.

In 2013, as a 13-year-old boy, I attended my first Knesset session on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. I could never have imagined that more than a decade later I would still be writing about the same issue.

For years, the only political party that consistently raised the recognition was Meretz, not because it served a political interest, but because its members believed recognition was a moral and historical obligation of any crime. Late Minister Yossi Sarid had the courage in 2000 to attend the memorial in the Armenian Quarter and Zehava Galon in 2015, while others didn’t even accept invitations to attend the memorial service.

Year after year, members of the Armenian community, representatives of the Armenian National Committee, clergy, and supporters attended committee meetings with hope, but for years we returned back home disappointed. Every discussion ended the same way, the Government of Israel would send a representative to explain why this was not the right time to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Suddenly 2026 is the right time to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

On 20 April 2020, the government's position was stated clearly by former MK Tzachi Hanegbi from the Likud party:
"We, the Jewish people, know very well what genocide means. However, the Government of Israel believes that the question of recognizing the historical events that took place in the Ottoman Empire is a complex issue, with historical, political, and diplomatic dimensions. Therefore, it is not appropriate for the Knesset to adopt an official position on the matter."

This was not a one-time argument. It was the consistent position of successive Israeli governments for many years.

Former President Reuven Rivlin, for whom I have respect, took a very different approach for many years. Long before becoming President, while serving as Speaker of the Knesset, he repeatedly spoke in favor of recognizing the Armenian Genocide, not because of political calculations or as leverage against Turkey, but because he believed it was the morally right thing to do. As he said in the Knesset in 2012: "It is forbidden to turn this question and this expression of solidarity into a political issue."

From my own experience, I know that even after becoming President, he never abandoned this position. Recognition was never a political tool for him; it was a matter of historical truth and moral responsibility. President Rivilin was the first one to hold a session on the Armenian Genocide at the Residence of the President in 2015 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Genocide.

I also witnessed, on numerous occasions, attempts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prevent meetings or initiatives in which the Armenian Genocide might be officially raised. That is why today's sudden appeal to morality raises difficult questions. If recognition is now considered a moral obligation, why was that same argument rejected for decades?

In 2016, MK Zehava Galon summarized exactly what many of us felt after years of attending these hearings: "Year after year, we give false hope to those gathered here. It does not befit the Knesset to continue discussing this issue annually without adopting a decision recognizing the Armenian Genocide on behalf of the State of Israel and the Knesset." Those words perfectly describe what our community experienced.

[Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane]

BREAKING: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sent letters to Pope Leo XIV, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and several world leaders, warning them about the serious situation in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli violations, particularly measures taken by the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem against churches and Christian institutions in the city that contravene international law.

The letters were addressed to King Abdullah II of Jordan, French President Emmanuel Macron, Pope Leo XIV, the prime ministers of Greece, Spain, Belgium, Italy, and the United Kingdom, the President of Russia, and the United Nations Secretary-General.

In his messages, President Abbas warned against Israel's attempt to impose the municipal property tax known as "Arnona" on churches, describing the move as an unprecedented and flagrant violation of the historic and legal status quo governing the holy sites, as well as a direct attack on the Christian presence and religious institutions in occupied East Jerusalem.

In his message to Pope Leo XIV, President Abbas expressed gratitude for the Pope's continued efforts to advance a just and lasting peace, commending the Holy See's recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders in accordance with international legitimacy, as well as its longstanding commitment to protecting the rights of Jerusalem's churches and preserving their historic status.

[李老师不是你老师 @whyyoutouzhele]

6月27日，英国《金融时报》发表独家报道，称记者于周五深夜在北京市平谷区石佛寺机场目击，数名身着黑衣的人员在制服警察监督下，对一辆黑色SUV进行搜查。随后，记者通过关联公共记录的车辆信息数据库查询发现，该车为一辆别克昂科雷（Buick Enclave CXL），登记车主姓名为“刘俊华”。

《金融时报》指出，石佛寺机场是东方时尚飞行学校（Eastern Pioneer）的飞行训练基地，而此前涉事飞机被认为与该校有关。不过，报道明确强调，目前尚无法确认这辆SUV或其登记车主与中信大厦飞机撞击事件存在直接关联。

报道还提到，公开资料显示，中信银行旗下机构亦有一名同名管理人员“刘俊华”，但无法确认其是否与车辆登记人或网传涉事飞行员为同一人。对此，中信集团和中信银行均拒绝置评。

[Elisabetta Piqué @bettapique]

La visita del papa León XIV a la Argentina en noviembre durará tres días https://t.co/80Z5bJnaIb via @LANACION/

[tiziana ferrario 🇮🇹🇪🇺🌍 @TizianaFerrario]

Non solo ai bambini. Toglierei l'uso dei social a chi ha ruoli istituzionali.Le relazioni tra Stati non possono avvenire a botte di post personali. Lo stesso vale per le questioni di politica interna.Usino account privati con gli amici se gli piace tanto.
#Trump #Meloni

[איימן עודה أيمن عودة Ayman Odeh @AyOdeh]

חייבים להציע אלטרנטיבה.

כי שוב ושוב המציאות מוכיחה לכולנו את מגבלות הכוח. ראינו את זה באיראן, בעזה ובלבנון. אבל בסופו של דבר, ההסכם החשוב מכולם הוא ההסכם בין הישראלים לפלסטינים.

והאלטרנטיבה היא הסכם שלום צודק בין שני העמים, שיבטיח שלום אזורי כולל, ביטחון אמיתי ועתיד טוב יותר לישראלים, לפלסטינים ולכל עמי האזור.

אי אפשר לחיות על החרב לעד.

על החרב אפשר רק למות.

ומוטב שנחיה.

[Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz]

Following intensive talks, we are pleased to announce that the Peace Deal between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran has been REACHED. Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

The official signing ceremony will be on Friday, 19 June in Switzerland.

We would like to thank the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in this mediation effort, the great leadership of State of Qatar, for their support in reaching this agreement. I would also especially thank the visionary leadership of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Republic of Türkiye for their immense contributions in this regard.

With the agreement now in place, mediators will facilitate a series of meetings this week. These pre-implementation discussions will lay the foundation for the technical talks and the official signing ceremony.

@realDonaldTrump
@JDVance
@SecRubio
@SteveWitkoff
@SEPeaceMissions
@drpezeshkian
@mb_ghalibaf
@araghchi

[Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي @NTarnopolsky]

💥Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich, 𝑤ℎ𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑠 but continues to work for the PM, posts a racist wink headlined "Shabbat Shalom."

[Yaakov Katz @yaakovkatz]

.@gadi_eisenkot was born in Tiberias to parents who immigrated to Israel from Morocco. He grew up in Eilat, attended several schools, and at 18 was drafted into the Golani Brigade. From there, he climbed through the ranks of the IDF, eventually becoming chief of staff in 2015.

@Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv and spent his childhood in Jerusalem and in the United States. After graduating high school near Philadelphia, he returned to Israel to serve in the IDF, and then went back to the US, where he studied at MIT, worked in the private sector, and later served in Israel’s diplomatic corps.

Two Israelis. Two very different life stories. Both accomplished and both deserving of respect.

But if someone were asked – without knowing either man – which of the two is likely to speak English more fluently, the answer would be obvious – the person who spent formative years in the United States, the person who earned a degree there, and the person who worked there professionally for years.

That observation is not controversial. It is simple common sense. And normally, this would not matter. In fact, it should not matter at all.

Yet this week, Netanyahu’s senior campaign strategist, @jonatanu – yes, the same Urich who has been under investigation in the Qatargate affair – decided to make this an issue.

Urich took to social media to ridicule Eisenkot’s English. He reposted an old video of Eisenkot speaking at the Washington Institute and mockingly referred to him as “Mr. Hasbara.” The intent was obvious. It was an attempt to portray Eisenkot as unqualified for national leadership because he is less fluent in English than Netanyahu.

Earlier in the week, after Eisenkot challenged Netanyahu to a debate, Urich responded with another sneering reply: “Are you prepared to do it in English?”

The absurdity is hard to overstate. There is no reason for Israeli prime ministerial candidates to have perfect English. If they were to hold a debate – which sadly Netanyahu refuses to do – it would obviously be in Hebrew because they are running to lead Israel.

What makes Urich’s attack bizarre is that he framed it as a criticism of Eisenkot’s ability to explain Israel’s case to the world.

He might want to look in the mirror.

Just a few days earlier, a Pew survey showed majorities in 36 countries – including the United States, Canada, Britain, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Poland – holding negative views of Israel. Earlier this year, Gallup found that for the first time in a quarter century, more Americans sympathized with Palestinians than Israelis.

These trends emerged while Israel was led by a prime minister with excellent English, and if English fluency was the secret to successful public diplomacy, those numbers should look very different.

The truth is that this was never about English. It is about something far simpler: finding another way to delegitimize a political opponent.

What is striking is not merely the content of these attack but the complete absence of anything positive. There is no attempt to explain why voters should support Netanyahu’s vision or to present a roadmap for the future. There is no discussion of policy, strategy, or national priorities.

Instead, the focus remains one – tearing down opponents.

Eisenkot does not need anyone to defend him. He spent more than four decades in uniform, he was wounded in combat, and he made life-and-death decisions daily.

This is also not about him. It is about us and the political culture we are willing to accept.

We can refuse to allow people like Urich to define the tone of the national conversation.

He and the party he serves need to understand that he is not the norm, but rather the exception.

And if we care about the future of Israeli democracy, we should make sure he remains one.

[Israel Elects @israel_elects]

The crossover has finally happened

[@LuciaGoracci @ZiaLulli1]

Abbiamo seguito Dror Etkes, database vivente delle colonie israeliane, mentre censisce le barriere che divorano terra palestinese. Nella loro realizzazione, anche aziende di un’Italia che continua a porre il veto all’idea di altri Ue di disinvestire dalle colonie. Con Ivo Bonato

[Daniel Seidemann @DanielSeidemann]

For many years, I took barbs for refusing to call Israel's policy in East Jerusalem "ethnic cleansing". After all, there were 60,000 Palestinians in East Jerusalem in 1967, and 400,000 today. Occupation sucked, and included war crimes, but it wasn't ethnic cleansing.

That has changed now.

There are 3 Palestinian neighborhoods, all of whose residents are being or are about to be displaced: Batan al-Hawa and al-Bustan in Silwan, and Um Haroun in Sheik Jarrah. The latter two are being razed, or will be razed in the near future.

And immediately to the east, the Bedouin hamlet of Khan al-Akmar, adjacent to E-1, is about to be expelled, part of an attempt to "cleanse" Area C between East Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley of its Palestinian residents.

Regrettably, I can think of no other term to use other than "ethnic cleansing".

[Giorgio Bernardelli @GioBernard]

Vuotare una cisterna d'acqua in una terra arida come il Medio Oriente: la quintessenza della violenza gratuita. Vanno avanti indisturbati sostenuti dal governo Netanyahu che li ha appena coperti di soldi per andare avanti a fare tutto questo

[Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane]

BREAKING: Israeli settlers attacked the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank, attacking homes, storming private properties, and vandalizing them.

In this video, one of the settlers is seen emptying a water tank onto the ground.
https://t.co/QiOAbofNdn

[Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي @NTarnopolsky]

💥#Breaking: For the first time since the Oslo Accords, the IDF has established a permanent outpost in Area A, which is under full Palestinian Authority control. It's near the Jenin refugee camp, whose residents were evacuated in January, 2025. Annexation by military encroachment

[Ken Moriyasu @kenmoriyasu]

Kyrgyzstan ambassador @baisalov
on the new UN Security Council seat:

“We view our membership at the highest table of the United Nations as a joint Turkic membership”

at the @caspiancenter

[Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane]

HORRIFIC: Israeli settler terrorists are attacking the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank right now— burning fields and opening fire on civilians.

[Razven @RazvenHK]

7 years ago.

[Daily Mail @DailyMail]

World Cup referee - Africa's best - is denied entry to United States and sent back after landing at Miami Airport, despite having a diplomatic passport https://t.co/2JPP5NpJpT

[Dr. Cinzia Bianco @Cinzia_Bianco]

Something I heard today: the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, which run even during Covid, is not happening this year. It was to be a summit. It is “postponed”. Speaks of the unease towards Beijing position during the war, as I wrote: less hedging going forward

[Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي @NTarnopolsky]

💥Former FM Tzipi Livni: "Welcome to a war of attrition that won't bring any positive strategic change. The main thing is that Smotrich tweeted "Dahiyyeh" as if it were a decisive airstrike. Everything is childish and foolish. Israel's security is in the hands of politicians unworthy of this nation."