Français
Español
English
Portuguese
If approved, the move would end Israel’s longstanding policy of withholding formal recognition, a position largely shaped by diplomatic and strategic considerations involving Turkey.
By United with Israel Staff
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced Thursday that he will bring a proposal before the government to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, marking what would be a historic shift in Israeli policy after decades of avoiding formal recognition.
In a statement, Sa’ar said the proposal will be presented at the next Cabinet meeting before being submitted to the Knesset for approval.
“Recognizing the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people in the final years of the Ottoman Empire is both a moral and historical duty,” Sa’ar wrote. “We must also firmly condemn any denial, minimization, or distortion of the historical truth.”
If approved, the move would end Israel’s longstanding policy of withholding formal recognition, a position largely shaped by diplomatic and strategic considerations involving Turkey.
The announcement comes amid a deep deterioration in relations between Jerusalem and Ankara. Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of destabilizing the Middle East, likened the international response to Israel to the world’s failure to stop Adolf Hitler, and warned that Israeli military operations in Syria and Lebanon could eventually threaten Turkey.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by calling Erdogan “an antisemitic dictator,” accusing him of supporting Hamas, oppressing his own people, and committing atrocities against the Kurds.
Against that backdrop, Sa’ar’s proposal is widely seen as another sign of the growing rift between Israel and Turkey, whose government has become one of Israel’s most outspoken critics since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
Israel has long acknowledged the immense suffering of the Armenian people during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, when an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed or died during mass deportations and massacres beginning in 1915. More than 30 countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, and Argentina, have formally recognized the events as genocide.
If approved by both the government and the Knesset, Israel would join that list, marking one of the most significant changes in its historical and diplomatic policy toward the Armenian Genocide.
Do You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too!
Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion.
Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
