As we speak, tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan are once again heightened. On July 12, a flare-up between both countries occurred in the Tavish region. Since then, there have been massive protests among the Armenian diaspora against Azerbaijan despite the coronavirus pandemic and now, Radio Free Europe reported that Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of launching an attack against them, a claim denied by the Azerbaijani government. During all of this, I believe that it is of critical importance to encourage the State of Israel to continue to support Azerbaijan, who is one of our few allies in the Muslim world, at its hour of critical need.
For starters, international law is clearly on the Azerbaijani side. Since 1991, Armenia has been controlling Nargano-Karabakh in violation of four UN Security Council resolutions. Upon seizure of this territory, they massacred 613 Azerbaijani civilians in Khojali. As a result of this conflict, over one million Azeris have been made refugees and one-fifth of Azerbaijani territory is under occupation.
More recently, Rabbi Zamir Isayev stated: "On July 12, Armenia began its aggression along the Azerbaijani border. They bombed and destroyed several buildings in an Azerbaijani village. 12 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed and several were injured. One civilian was also killed. The psychological damage was significant. The army did not suspect that Armenia would begin the aggression around that area. There was no conflict there."
Furthermore, Brenda Shaffer, a senior advisor for energy at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, concurred, telling the Jerusalem Post that it is unlikely that Azerbaijan would have started the border skirmish because it occurred very close to the Southern Gas Corridor, which is supposed to supply Azeri oil to Europe. Shaffer argued that it is unlikely that Azerbaijan would want to sabotage that.
The Azerbaijani Jewish community is also standing behind the Azerbaijani government. According to Rabbi Isayev, "the Azerbaijanis see the Jewish people all over the world positively. They always stand with them. For hundreds of years, the Jewish people lived well in Azerbaijan. There was no anti-Semitism."
"Israel is especially important for Azerbaijan," he declared. "Azerbaijan knows that Israel always stands with Azerbaijan."
It should be emphasized that Azerbaijan not just a trade ally, it is a regional ally.
According to unverified reports in the foreign media, Azerbaijan helped Israel in its operation to smuggle the nuclear archive from Iran.
A strong Azerbaijan that can serve as Israel's eyes and ears in Tehran, and one that can defend itself against Armenian aggression, is in Israel's best interests. Despite the pandemic, the Israeli government should do whatever possible to help Azerbaijan at this critical juncture.
Rachel Avraham is a political analyst at the Safadi Center for International Diplomacy, Public Relations, Research and Human Rights.
