Israel Plans Government Vote to Officially Recognize Armenian Genocide Amid Rising Tensions with Turkey

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced on Thursday that he will present a government resolution in the upcoming cabinet meeting to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. The resolution states that Israel, based on moral and historical obligations, will acknowledge the systematic extermination of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. It also condemns any denial, minimization, or distortion of these historical facts. The proposal details the genocide's onset in April 1915, with the arrest and killing of Armenian intellectuals and leaders in Constantinople, followed by forced labor, death marches, and mass killings that resulted in approximately 1.5 million deaths and the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Anatolia.

The resolution highlights ongoing denial campaigns, particularly by Turkey, which manipulate historical narratives. Last August, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly recognized the Armenian genocide for the first time during an American podcast interview, although the Knesset has not officially done so despite multiple discussions. Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned Netanyahu's remarks as politically motivated and historically inaccurate.

The Armenian genocide occurred during World War I and was followed by continued massacres of Armenians by Turks, Kurds, and Azeris until 1923. It is estimated that up to 1.5 million Armenians perished, about half the Armenian population in Turkey at the time. To date, 32 countries have recognized the genocide through various official means. Armenians worldwide commemorate the genocide annually on April 24.

This announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Turkey. Earlier on Thursday, Israeli media reported concerns within the IDF about the potential sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey by the United States, which could jeopardize Israeli air force operational freedom. Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously considered joining forces with Iran in conflict. Erdogan recently accused Israel of aggressive actions in Syria, Lebanon, and the Mediterranean that threaten Turkey and the wider region.

Israel views Erdogan's regional ambitions as efforts to establish Turkey as a dominant Middle Eastern power. Turkey is increasing its involvement in Gaza, strengthening ties with Hamas, maintaining a drone base in northern Cyprus, and expanding its advanced naval and missile capabilities, including ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel.