Israel Recognizes Armenian Genocide

Israel's cabinet voted unanimously on June 28 to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, ending decades of diplomatic deference to Ankara. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who championed the resolution, declared, "It's never too late to do the right thing," framing recognition of the roughly 1.5 million Armenians murdered in the final years of the Ottoman Empire as a moral obligation for the Jewish state. The measure also commits Israel to condemn denial, minimization, or distortion of the genocide, a campaign long led by Turkey. The resolution now advances to the Knesset, where it is expected to pass, making Israel one of roughly three dozen nations to formally affirm the historical record.