JERUSALEM — Israel's Cabinet voted unanimously to formally recognize the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War One as genocide, marking a major shift in Israeli policy that is expected to deepen already strained relations with Turkey and send the proposal to parliament for final approval.
The decision, approved at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday, follows years in which successive Israeli governments avoided formal recognition because of diplomatic sensitivities with Ankara. The measure now requires approval by the Knesset before becoming the state's official position.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who submitted the proposal, said the move reflected Israel's moral and historical responsibility.
"Despite the extensive and unambiguous historical documentation, the Armenian Genocide remains to this day the subject of an institutionalized campaign of denial and minimization," Saar said after the Cabinet vote. He added that "it is never too late to do the right thing."
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians died through mass killings, deportations and other abuses carried out by Ottoman authorities between 1915 and 1916. The events are recognized as genocide by more than 30 countries and are widely regarded by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey rejects that characterization, arguing that the deaths occurred during civil conflict and wartime unrest and disputing casualty estimates.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned Israel's decision, calling it politically motivated and accusing the Israeli government of attempting to divert attention from international criticism of its military campaign in Gaza. The ministry rejected Israel's characterization of the Armenian killings and reiterated Ankara's longstanding position that historical events should not be judged through political resolutions.
Relations between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated sharply over recent years, particularly since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023. The two countries, once close strategic partners, have repeatedly exchanged accusations over the conflict and regional security issues. Analysts have long viewed Israel's reluctance to recognize the Armenian genocide as linked to its ties with Turkey.
Israeli officials said the Cabinet's decision would now be forwarded to the Knesset for parliamentary consideration. No date for the vote has been announced.
