The arson of the only synagogue in Armenia, for which the terrorist organization Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) claimed responsibility, is not the first, nor will it be the last case of militant anti-Semitism in Armenian society, Ednews informs with reference to the “Why Was Armenia’s Last Synagogue Set on Fire?” article published by the Jewish Journal.

According to the author of the article, at the moment Armenia is demonstrating open anti-Semitism, which, among other things, is evidenced by the numerous Nazi monuments in this country.

The recent march on January 1, 2024, in the capital Yerevan, where neo-Nazis saluted with the traditional Hitler salute, chanting “Armenia only for Armenians,” says a lot, the author writes. This is a demonstration of national intolerance and adherence to fascist ideas of national exclusivity.

However, the author believes that there is nothing surprising here. "Back in 2014, the Anti-Defamation League categorized Armenia as the second most antisemitic country in Europe and the world’s third most antisemitic country outside of the Middle East. Additionally, a Pew Research Center survey found that 32 percent of Armenians would not accept Jews as fellow citizens, which is the highest percentage in this survey among Central and Eastern Europe," reads the article.

The author gives other examples too. "This was true during the Holocaust when Armenian troops served the Third Reich and led Jewish prisoners on death marches, while Armenian-American organizations publicly praised Hitler as a 'gift to mankind,' describing the Holocaust as a 'surgical operation' to cleanse Germany of 'poisonous elements.'"

In the author's opinion, the current surge of anti-Semitism in Armenian society and the diaspora around the world should also be considered as a reaction to close and friendly Israeli-Azerbaijani ties. He emphasizes that a similar feature can be traced in the history of both peoples: both Jews and Azerbaijanis were subjected to particularly brutal massacres, but the friendship between Israel and Azerbaijan is not at all directed against others, including Armenia.

"The Khojaly Massacre, the worst event of Armenia’s invasion of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region, was later described by Israel’s President Rivlin, in his address to the United Nations on Holocaust Remembrance Day, as evidence that we had not done enough to claim 'never again' when it comes to such a level of brutal inhumanity," reads the article.

On November 15, the only synagogue remaining in Armenia was set on fire. That same synagogue was vandalized on October 3.