Israel’s cabinet announced Sunday that it had unanimously approved Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s proposal to recognize the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 as genocide. The decision still requires ratification by the Knesset to become official.
Turkey has yet to respond, but the issue remains highly sensitive for Ankara, which denies that the Ottoman Empire committed genocide against Armenians. Turkish officials argue the events were part of ethnic conflict during World War I, with casualties on both sides, and reject figures of one to 1.5 million Armenian deaths as exaggerated.
The recognition comes amid escalating political tensions between Israel and Turkey since the Gaza war began in October 2023. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government as “bloodthirsty” and the greatest threat to Middle East security, fueling diplomatic hostility.
The dispute has also widened following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. Israel views the Syrian shift as an opportunity to dismantle military capabilities, while Turkey seeks to support Syrians in building a new army, intensifying regional rivalry.
Israel’s recognition of the Armenian genocide is seen not only as a symbolic gesture but also as a political message, underscoring the deepening rift with Ankara at a time of heightened regional instability.