Israel's government voted unanimously on Sunday to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, a direct challenge to Turke...

Israel's government voted unanimously on Sunday to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, a direct challenge to Turkey, which has long rejected the term and lobbied against international recognition efforts. The decision came on the proposal of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who called the move both a moral and historical obligation. "It is never too late to do what is right," Sa'ar said, adding that Israel must also clearly condemn any denial, downplaying, or distortion of historical truth. The vote comes at a moment of heightened tensions between Israel and Turkey, making the timing significant. The resolution still needs to clear the Israeli parliament before becoming fully official. The Armenian Genocide, carried out during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. Turkey has consistently denied that the mass killings constituted genocide and has pressured other countries not to formally recognize them as such. Israel had historically been reluctant to use the term, partly due to its strategic relationship with Turkey. Sunday's cabinet vote signals a sharp break from that posture. Sa'ar had previously stated that recognizing the genocide committed against the Armenian people is a moral and historical duty and that denial must be actively condemned, not just passively avoided. The move puts Israel alongside the United States, France, Germany, and dozens of other countries that have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. Turkey's government has not yet responded publicly to Sunday's announcement. #ArmenianGenocide #Israel #Turkey