Israel’s cabinet has unanimously approved the formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide—a term rejected by Turkey. The decision comes amid a period of heightened tensions between the two countries.
A Historic Step
“Historic decision: Israel’s government unanimously approved Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s proposal to recognize the Armenian Genocide,” stated a press release from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Next Steps and Context
The cabinet’s decision still requires parliamentary approval before it becomes official. Minister Sa’ar emphasized the moral and historical weight of the move, saying, “It is never too late to do what is right… It is both a moral and a historical duty.”
The Armenian Genocide refers to the mass killing and deportation of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I, beginning in 1915. Most historians and over 30 countries—including France, Germany, and Canada—have formally recognized the events as genocide. Turkey maintains that the deaths were a tragic consequence of war and internal strife, not a deliberate, state-organized campaign of extermination.