Israel’s Cabinet unanimously approved a historic proposal on Sunday to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, marking a formal reversal of decades of diplomatic avoidance on the sensitive issue and a departure from decades of geopolitical concerns that had prevented the world news story from reaching this milestone.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar introduced the resolution at the government meeting on June 28, 2026. In his remarks, Sa’ar stated that the Armenian Genocide began on April 24, 1915, with the arrest, deportation, and murder of hundreds of Armenian clergy, leaders, and intellectuals in Constantinople, followed by systematic elimination of the Armenian population through forced labor, death marches, mass murder, and deliberate starvation—resulting in approximately 1.5 million deaths.
“It is never too late to do the right thing,” Sa’ar said, according to the Israeli government’s official statement. He emphasized that Israel, as a Jewish state, has both a moral and historical duty to recognize the genocide despite the lack of recognition for over a century.
Israel had long avoided formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide, primarily due to geopolitical considerations involving Turkey and Azerbaijan. According to Ynetnews, Israel had “long avoided formal recognition, partly out of concern over relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan,” both strategically important regional partners. The Armenian Weekly noted that Azerbaijan’s relationship with Israel had been a major factor preventing recognition, as Israel provided military support to Azerbaijan during its conflicts with Armenia.
Sa’ar’s statement acknowledged this history, noting that previous Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz had made statements recognizing the genocide, and that the Zionist Organization had decided about a decade ago to recognize it. However, earlier attempts to pass Knesset resolutions on the matter had not succeeded.
The proposal now requires approval by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, to become official state policy. If approved, Israel would join 32 countries that have already recognized the Armenian Genocide, including the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia, and Greece, according to Sa’ar’s statement.
Turkey swiftly rejected the recognition. On June 29, Turkey lashed out at the decision, branding it as “political” and motivated by hostility toward Turkey under President Erdogan’s leadership. According to Turkish Minute, Turkey “strongly rejects the genocide label for the 1915 killings, saying both Armenians and Turks died during World War I.” Le Monde reported that Turkey accused Israel of attempting to “cover its own alleged crimes” through the recognition.
Azerbaijan also issued a rare rebuke of its ally Israel over the decision, according to Middle East Eye reporting from June 29. The move signals potential strain on Israel’s strategic relationship with Azerbaijan, a key regional security partner and source of military cooperation.
The Armenian diaspora, estimated at 7 to 8 million people worldwide, expressed appreciation for the decision. Sa’ar noted that he had received a letter of appreciation from the Armenian Church and the Armenian community in Jerusalem on Friday, June 27. Significant Armenian communities exist in the United States, Russia, France, Lebanon, Iran, Argentina, and Brazil, as well as in Israel’s Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem.
Sources
- Gov.il (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — Official government statement with FM Sa’ar’s remarks on the Cabinet decision, including details on the Armenian Genocide, historical recognition efforts, and the diaspora.
- Haaretz — Cabinet approval and details on the proposal’s scope and long-standing diplomatic avoidance.
- The Times of Israel — Cabinet unanimously approves landmark proposal to recognize Armenian Genocide.
- i24NEWS — Israeli government unanimously approves proposal with 1.5 million Armenian deaths figure.
- Ynetnews — Israel’s long avoidance of recognition due to concerns over relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan.
- Middle East Eye — Azerbaijan’s rare rebuke against Israel over Armenian Genocide recognition.
- Le Monde — Turkey’s reaction and condemnation of Israel’s recognition as political.
- Turkish Minute — Turkey’s rejection of genocide label and statement on World War I deaths.
- Euronews — Confirmation of Cabinet’s unanimous recognition and countries already recognizing the genocide.
