'We call on the Israeli government to reconsider this decision,' Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

'It's never too late to do the right thing,' Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar wrote.

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.

Pressed on why no prime minister has publicly characterized the World War I-era events as genocide, Netanyahu said, 'I just did. Here you go.'

In line with its stance that over a million Armenians were killed in what should be considered a genocide, Israel will send a Knesset delegation to participate in the ceremonies commemorating the massacre.