The Government of Israel has approved a resolution presented by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to officially recognize the genocide committed against Armenians committed by the Ottoman Empire in Western Armenia. The decision, based on moral and historical responsibility, condemns any attempt to deny, diminish, or distort the historical facts of the genocide.

Gideon Sa’ar stated that recognizing the genocide committed against Armenians is a moral obligation of the Jewish people. According to him, the historical facts of this tragedy, which took place more than a century ago, are undeniable. Approximately 1.5 million Armenians perished in Western Armenia, and a millennia-old cultural and historical heritage was destroyed.

The genocide committed against Armenians continued in April 1915 with the mass arrests and killings of Armenian intellectuals and public figures, followed by deportations and massacres. Following government approval, the resolution will be submitted to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, for final adoption.

To date, 32 United Nations member states have recognized the genocide committed against Armenians, including the United States (through several resolutions of the House of Representatives and the Senate between 1920 and 2019, as well as President Biden’s 2021 proclamation), Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Canada, Russia, Greece, Cyprus, the Vatican, as well as Lebanon and Syria.

The reference to the 1920 resolution of the U.S. Senate recalls that the same Senate recognized the independence of Armenia within the territory of Western Armenia on May 11, 1920.

President Armenag Aprahamian will issue an official response on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.