Israel’s Cabinet Recognizes Armenian Genocide Amid Tensions with Turkey

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel’s Cabinet has unanimously approved a proposal to recognize the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as a genocide. This decision still requires Parliament’s approval and highlights the strained relations between Israel and Turkey.

Turkey has consistently lobbied against the official recognition of these mass deaths, despite Armenian efforts for acknowledgment. It is estimated by historians that around 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks in what is considered by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey disputes both the characterization and the death toll, claiming the deaths resulted from civil war and unrest.

Israel has historically avoided the subject to maintain relations with Turkey. However, ties between the countries have deteriorated, especially amidst ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasized the extensive historical evidence supporting the genocide and criticized efforts to deny or minimize it, which he attributes mainly to the Turkish government. Saar, along with other Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has previously termed the violence as genocide, yet it has not been officially recognized by the Israeli Knesset.

“It is never too late to do the right thing,” Saar asserted, labeling the recognition as a “moral and historical duty.”

Thirty-two nations, including the United States, Syria, and Lebanon, have recognized the violence as genocide.

The timeline for when Israel’s decision will proceed to parliament remains unclear. Turkey responded by labeling the move as “politically motivated” and aimed at distracting from Israel’s own actions concerning Palestinians.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry criticized Israel, highlighting accusations faced by the Israeli government, including an ongoing case at the International Court of Justice concerning alleged genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Turkey’s statement further accused Israeli leaders of covering up their alleged crimes.

Once allies, Israel and Turkey’s relations have soured with the rise of Turkey’s Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prompting Israel to reevaluate its stand. Israel, born from the aftermath of the Holocaust, denies accusations of genocide in Gaza. The country states it targets only militants, accusing Hamas of using civilians as shields.

Last week, United Nations-commissioned experts accused Israel of deliberately targeting children in Gaza. The report also repeated genocide accusations against Israel, which the Israeli government dismissed as dishonest criticism.