Israel Officially Recognizes Armenian Genocide Amid Tensions with Turkey

Amid ongoing diplomatic tensions and repeated criticisms from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Israeli government unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide. The proposal was initiated by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who emphasized the moral imperative of the decision during the cabinet meeting, stating, "It is never too late to do the right thing."

In an official statement, Sa'ar detailed the genocide as a horrific event over 100 years ago, involving the systematic killing of approximately 1.5 million Armenians and the destruction of their cultural and historical heritage. He highlighted the historical consensus on the facts despite ongoing denial campaigns, particularly by Turkey. Sa'ar thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and fellow ministers for their support.

The Armenian genocide began in April 1915 with the arrest and execution of Armenian intellectuals and leaders in Constantinople, followed by mass deportations and killings orchestrated by the Ottoman Empire. Men were conscripted for forced labor and murdered, while women, children, and the elderly were subjected to death marches into the Syrian desert, resulting in mass starvation, thirst, and massacres.

Despite extensive historical documentation, the genocide has faced institutional denial and distortion, mainly by Turkey. To date, 32 countries have recognized the Armenian genocide through various parliamentary resolutions, legislation, or official statements. Sa'ar stressed Israel's moral and historical duty to formally acknowledge the genocide and condemned any attempts to distort these events.

He clarified that the decision was not a retaliatory act against Turkey's hostile rhetoric or actions under Erdogan's leadership but underscored that Turkey's false narratives do not exempt it from historical truth. The recognition aims to close a longstanding gap in Israel's official stance and respond to repeated international inquiries about its position on the matter.