Why Israel is now moving to recognise the Armenian genocide. Here's all we know

Israel has taken a significant step towards formally recognising the mass killings of Armenians during World War I as genocide. The country's Cabinet unanimously approved a proposal on Sunday, though the measure still requires approval from the Israeli Parliament.

The decision comes at a time of worsening relations between Israel and Turkey, which has consistently opposed international recognition of the events of 1915 as genocide, per a report by Hindustan Times.

A long-debated historical issue

Historians quoted by HT estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians died during the final years of the Ottoman Empire around World War I. Many scholars describe the events as the first genocide of the 20th century.

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Turkey disputes the characterisation, maintaining that the death toll has been exaggerated and arguing that those who died were victims of conflict, unrest and civil war.

For decades, Israel avoided taking an official position on the issue because of its diplomatic ties with Turkey. However, relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated over recent years.

Israel cites moral and historical responsibility

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who introduced the proposal, was quoted as saying by HT, “Despite the extensive and unambiguous historical documentation, the Armenian Genocide remains to this day the subject of an institutionalized campaign of denial and minimization, including a manipulative rewriting of history, mainly by the Turkish government.”

He also said, “It is never too late to do the right thing,” describing the move as a “moral and historical duty.”

Saar noted that several countries, including the United States, Syria and Lebanon, have already recognised the killings as genocide.

Turkey criticises the decision

Turkey strongly condemned Israel's move and described it as politically motivated.

“The Israeli government, which systematically persecutes the Palestinian people in full view of the world and is being tried at the International Court of Justice for genocide against the people of Gaza, aims to cover up its own crimes,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said, HT reported.

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The Ministry further added, “This malicious attempt, which disregards legal and historical facts, reveals the predicament of Netanyahu and his accomplices, who have arrest warrants against them in connection with the investigation into crimes committed against Palestinians at the International Criminal Court.”

The proposal is now expected to move to Israel's Parliament, though no date has yet been announced for the vote.

FAQs:

Has Israel officially recognised the Armenian genocide?

Not yet. The proposal has been approved by the Cabinet but still requires parliamentary approval.

Why is Turkey opposing the move?

Turkey rejects the term genocide and argues that the deaths occurred during wartime unrest and conflict.