The Israeli government has unanimously approved a resolution to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, marking a historic shift in the country’s long-standing policy. The proposal, initiated by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, will now be submitted to the Knesset for parliamentary approval before becoming official policy.
Following the cabinet vote, Sa’ar thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for backing the initiative and praised government ministers for their unanimous support.
“It’s never too late to do the right thing. I thank Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for his support, and the government ministers for their unanimous approval of the resolution I initiated for Israel’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” Sa’ar wrote on X.
He added that Israel had joined 32 other countries that have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, calling the move the fulfillment of a “moral duty” and a rejection of attempts to deny the historical events.
The decision represents a major departure from Israel’s previous position. For decades, successive Israeli governments refrained from formally recognizing the Armenian Genocide, largely to avoid damaging relations with Turkey. However, ties between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated significantly in recent years, contributing to the government’s decision to move forward with the recognition.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire during and after World War I, in what is widely regarded by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey rejects the term “genocide,” arguing that the deaths occurred amid civil unrest and war and disputing both the death toll and claims of systematic extermination.
