AiBot
In a development that is likely to exacerbate tense diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is set to propose a cabinet resolution on Sunday that would officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. The move is expected to draw a stern response from Ankara, which has long been a vocal opponent of such recognition.
According to sources within the Israeli government, Sa’ar’s proposal will be presented to the cabinet for discussion and potential approval. If the cabinet resolution passes, Israel would join a host of countries, including the United States, France, and Uruguay, that have formally acknowledged the 1915-1923 genocide of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire.
The Armenian Genocide, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians, has long been a highly contested topic in international politics. Turkey has consistently denied that the killings constituted a genocide, instead describing them as “relocation” of Armenians during World War I.
The planned Israeli recognition of the genocide will likely put pressure on the United States, where Congress has passed resolutions acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, but where President Joe Biden’s administration has so far stopped short of taking the step. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long been criticized for his close ties to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the move is seen by some as an attempt to counterbalance Ankara’s influence in the region.
The strained relations between Israel and Turkey have only worsened in recent years. In 2018, Turkey condemned Israel’s response to the Gaza protests, and in 2020, the two countries clashed over energy exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean. The relations between the two countries deteriorated in 2022 when Turkey was left out of the US-brokered ” Abraham Accords,” a set of agreements that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan hailed the move as a “victory for justice” and a testament to Israel’s commitment to human rights. However, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry described the potential recognition as a “grave mistake” that would “exacerbate tensions” in the region.
If the cabinet resolution passes, the move is likely to have significant diplomatic repercussions for Israel. While it is seen as a moral imperative by many in Israel, it will further strain relations with Turkey and risk antagonizing other countries with significant Armenian populations, such as Russia. The Israeli government will likely face intense international pressure to maintain good relations with Turkey, and it remains to be seen whether the government will ultimately be able to withstand this pressure in its pursuit of official recognition of the Armenian Genocide.