Israel Unanimously Recognizes Armenian Genocide in Historic Government Vote

The Israeli government unanimously approved a bill proposed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. The decision was announced on Sunday during a cabinet meeting, where Sa'ar emphasized that "it is never too late to do the right thing." This move aligns Israel with 32 other countries that have formally acknowledged the mass killing of approximately 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire starting in 1915.

Sa'ar highlighted the extensive historical documentation of the genocide but noted that Armenians continue to face systematic denial, primarily from Turkey. The legislation aims to establish a clear stance condemning any attempts to distort historical truth. This recognition comes amid deteriorating relations between Israel and Turkey, marked recently by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statements opposing Israeli policies and asserting Turkey's security interests in Damascus and Beirut.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had previously refrained from formally recognizing the genocide, stated in a recent podcast that he now acknowledges it and referenced prior Knesset decisions on the matter. Netanyahu also sharply criticized Erdoğan's support for Hamas and his antagonistic rhetoric toward Israel, affirming that the Israel Defense Forces will continue operations against Iran and its proxies.

In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Erdoğan avoided joining a confrontation with Iran following a personal request from him, despite Erdoğan's critical stance toward Israel. The Armenian genocide began in April 1915 with the Ottoman Empire's arrest and execution of Armenian intellectuals and leaders in Constantinople, followed by systematic deportations and mass killings through forced marches into the Syrian desert. The atrocities resulted in the deaths of around 1.5 million Armenians and the destruction of a millennia-old cultural heritage in Anatolia.