Israel Moves to Recognize Armenian Genocide as Tensions With Turkey Rise

In a significant development, Israel’s Cabinet unanimously approved a proposal to officially recognize the violence against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide. However, this measure still requires approval from the Israeli Parliament.

This decision comes amidst deteriorating relations between Israel and Turkey. Turkey has long opposed international recognition of the Armenian mass killings around 1915 as genocide. Armenians, on the other hand, have consistently pushed for this acknowledgment.

Historians estimate that approximately 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks during the First World War. This event is widely considered by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. However, Turkey disputes this classification, arguing that the death toll is exaggerated and that the deceased were casualties of civil unrest.

Israel had historically avoided formally addressing the topic, largely out of concern for upsetting Turkey. Yet, the relationship between the two nations has deteriorated, exacerbated by protracted conflicts involving Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Gideon Saar, Israel’s Foreign Minister, noted the extensive historical documentation supporting the Armenian Genocide. He criticized ongoing denial campaigns, primarily by the Turkish government, in an effort to rewrite history. Saar highlighted that Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have often described the violence against Armenians as genocide, even though it hasn’t been formally recognized by the Knesset.

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

A total of 32 countries, including the United States, Syria, and Lebanon, have recognized these events as genocide.

The timeline for moving the Cabinet’s decision to the Parliament remains unclear. Meanwhile, Turkey’s response has been swift and critical. The Turkish government labeled Israel’s resolution as politically driven, claiming it aims to obfuscate Israel’s military actions against Palestinians.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s stance, accusing it of attempting to cover up its own alleged crimes and mentioning ongoing investigations at the International Criminal Court related to Israeli military actions.

Historically, Israel and Turkey had maintained a close alliance. However, tensions worsened with the ascent of Turkey’s Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Accusations against Israel have persisted, with allegations of conducting a genocide in Gaza, primarily by the United Nations and Turkey. Israel firmly denies these charges, citing its foundation after the Holocaust as a moral safeguard against such crimes.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, especially following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, has intensified scrutiny. The Gaza Health Ministry, operated by Hamas, reports over 73,000 casualties, nearly half being women and children. Israel denies targeting civilians, accusing Hamas of using civilian populations as shields.

Recently, a report by independent experts commissioned by the United Nations accused Israel of targeting children in Gaza. Israel dismissed the report as a libelous sham.