In a move likely to strain relations with Turkey, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced a resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. This proposed resolution, to be brought before the next government meeting, cites moral and historical duty as its basis. It also calls for condemnation of any denial or minimization of the atrocities committed against the Armenian people during the late Ottoman Empire, which led to an estimated 1.5 million deaths. This development comes as the U.S. weighs a significant arms sale to Turkey and following President Trump’s recent praise of Turkish President Erdogan.
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Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar has called for Turkey to be treated as an “enemy state,” warning it could become Israel’s next major adversary. These remarks followed the Israeli interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla that sailed from Turkey. Zohar asserted that if Turkey “chooses the path of war,” it would “pay a very heavy price,” drawing parallels to Iran’s failed ambitions. Despite Zohar’s claims of Turkish President Erdogan’s intentions to conquer Israel, organizers of the flotilla denied the presence of Turkish-flagged vessels and accused Israel of fabricating lies to isolate certain boats. Tensions between the two nations have been escalating, with some Israeli figures increasingly comparing Turkey to Iran as a potential principal regional rival.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared for the first time that he recognizes the mass killings of Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide. During an interview, Netanyahu stated he believed a resolution to that effect had been passed by the Knesset, despite no such legislation existing. This marks a significant shift in the Israeli stance on the historical events. The declaration occurred amid Turkey’s criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where Turkey has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, a claim Israel denies.
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John Q. Hosedrinker