Israeli Government Formally Recognizes Armenian Genocide

Israel's government voted unanimously on Sunday to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, following a resolution proposed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. The resolution acknowledges the genocide committed against the Armenian people during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, characterizing it as a moral and historical duty for the Jewish state to recognize.

Sa'ar stated the genocide resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million people and the destruction of Armenian cultural and historical heritage. The resolution also calls for condemning denial, minimization, or distortion of the historical facts surrounding the events.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the resolution, which received unanimous support from government ministers. With Israel's recognition, 32 countries now formally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.