Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide, making him the first Israeli leader to do so and breaking with decades of Israel’s cautious approach to the issue.
The statement came during an interview with American podcaster Patrick Bet-David, who asked why Israel had never formally acknowledged the mass killings of Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks under the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Netanyahu, after briefly citing a past Knesset resolution, responded bluntly: “Yeah, I just did. Here you go.”
Turkey reacted swiftly, condemning the remarks and accusing Netanyahu of exploiting history to deflect criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Ankara’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the recognition as politically motivated and said it unfairly blamed Turkey for the deaths of an estimated two million people in 1915.
The move highlights growing friction between Israel and Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has already imposed trade restrictions and threatened further action over the war in Gaza. Longstanding disputes, such as Turkey’s occupation of northern Cyprus, have also fueled the two nations’ strained relations.
Historians widely estimate that between one and 1.5 million Armenians were killed through forced deportations, executions, and death marches during World War I, alongside atrocities against Assyrian and Pontic Greek communities. More than 30 countries, as well as the European Union and the Vatican, have recognized the Armenian Genocide. Netanyahu’s statement now places Israel’s leadership among them, marking a historic departure from the nation’s previous stance while deepening a widening diplomatic rift with Ankara.
