Israel Recognizes Armenian Genocide, Ending Decades-Long Policy

Israel's government has unanimously approved a proposal to officially recognise the Armenian genocide, marking a significant shift in its long-standing policy on one of the most contentious issues in modern history. The decision follows a cabinet proposal by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and comes amid strained relations between Israel and Turkey.

The move formally acknowledges the mass killings of Armenians during the final years of the Ottoman Empire as genocide, a step Israel had previously avoided over concerns that it could damage diplomatic ties with Ankara. The decision is expected to draw a strong response from Turkey, which rejects the genocide designation. Israel, Lebanon Sign US-Mediated Framework Agreement in First Step Toward Peace (Watch Video).

Israel Cabinet Approves Official Recognition of Armenian Genocide

Announcing the decision, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar described the move as a moral obligation. "It is never too late to do the right thing," Sa'ar said in a statement. "This horrifying genocide, which took place more than 100 years ago and about whose historical facts there is truly no dispute, involved the murder of one and a half million people and the destruction of an ancient cultural and historical heritage," he said.

"In my view, it is our moral duty as Jews, and certainly as the state of the Jewish people, to make the decision we made today. I would like to thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his backing, and my fellow government ministers for their support," the foreign minister added. Does Donald Trump Do Everything Benjamin Netanyahu Asks? Israeli PM Addresses Claims (Watch Video).

For decades, Israel refrained from officially recognizing the Armenian genocide, citing concerns that doing so could harm relations with Turkey. However, ties between the two countries have deteriorated significantly in recent years, particularly after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Against that backdrop, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last year for the first time that he recognized the Armenian genocide. Asked ahead of the cabinet decision whether he supported the proposal, Netanyahu said, "I certainly support it," while declining to comment on Turkey's possible response.

Armenians have long sought international recognition of the killings, mass deportations and persecution carried out during the final years of the Ottoman Empire as genocide. Historians estimate that around 1.5 million Armenians died during the events.

Turkey, the successor state to the Ottoman Empire, rejects the characterization of the events as genocide. Ankara maintains that while many Armenians died during the First World War, the deaths occurred amid conflict and unrest and should not be legally defined as genocide.

Israel's recognition adds another country to the growing list of nations that have formally recognized the Armenian genocide, a move with potential diplomatic implications for relations between Jerusalem and Ankara.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2026 05:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).