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ARMENIAN GENOCIDE -For the first time in history, an Israeli prime minister has publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide. On August 26, 2025, during an interview on the PBD Podcast, Benjamin Netanyahu, when pressed on why Israel has not officially acknowledged the genocide of Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks, stated bluntly: “I just did. Here you go.” With those words, he crossed a line that his predecessors had carefully avoided for decades.
During a podcast interview with Armenian-born presenter Patrick Bet-David, Netanyahu RECOGNIZES Armenian Genocide For The First Time EVER – Netanyahu said, “I think we did. I think the Knesset passed a resolution to that effect,” although no such legislation has been passed by Israel’s parliament.
On the surface, the statement carries immense weight. The extermination of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1917 is one of the century’s defining atrocities. For generations, Armenians and their allies have fought for global recognition, only to face denial or silence from nations prioritizing political expediency over moral clarity. Israel, despite its own history of suffering and the lessons of the Holocaust, has long refused official recognition—an omission rooted in geopolitical calculations and relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Netanyahu’s declaration thus appeared to mark a historic shift.
Yet one cannot ignore the context. Netanyahu’s phrasing was not the language of statecraft but of personal improvisation—“I just did.” He offered no commitment that the Israeli government, the Knesset, or the Foreign Ministry would adopt this position. For all the headlines, Israel’s policy remains officially unchanged. Recognition by podcast quip does not carry the same weight as recognition codified in law or foreign policy.
That raises the critical question: was this moral courage or political theater? Netanyahu, embattled at home and facing increasing isolation abroad, has every incentive to seize on symbolic moments to reshape his image. By offering recognition in such an informal setting, he garners global attention without committing Israel to the diplomatic consequences. It allows him to appear principled while avoiding the hard work of legislating or formally declaring a new state policy. In this sense, his words could be interpreted as less about historical justice and more about present-day political survival.
The moral dimension, however, cannot be dismissed. Armenians and Jews share a tragic bond in their experience of genocide and denial. For survivors and their descendants, every acknowledgment is another blow against erasure. Symbolism matters, even when it is incomplete. Still, justice requires more than a soundbite—it requires official recognition and the courage to withstand the geopolitical backlash. An authentic reckoning would mean not only recognition but also integrating the Armenian Genocide into Israel’s educational, cultural, and diplomatic frameworks.
The risks are not hypothetical. Turkey will undoubtedly rage against this statement, and Azerbaijan—an increasingly important military partner for Israel—will not stay silent. Ankara has historically threatened retaliation against nations that recognize the Armenian Genocide, recalling ambassadors and freezing cooperation. Baku, for its part, has cultivated deep military and intelligence ties with Israel, making its disapproval even more consequential. Netanyahu surely knows this. His gamble is that the symbolic statement can win him credit without forcing Israel to fully rupture these relationships. But this half- measure leaves Israel looking cautious, even opportunistic, rather than principled.
At the same time, the benefits of genuine recognition should not be overlooked. By openly acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, Israel would stand shoulder to shoulder with democracies that affirm historical truth. It would strengthen ties with Greece, Cyprus, Armenia, and other regional actors increasingly important to Israel’s strategic calculus. It would also reinforce the moral consistency of Israel’s fight against
Holocaust denial. A nation that demands global recognition of Jewish suffering cannot indefinitely withhold recognition of Armenian suffering without undermining its own credibility.
History judges not only words but the actions that follow. Netanyahu’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide could be remembered as the first crack in Israel’s wall of silence—or as a convenient distraction that never translated into policy. The test will come in the weeks and months ahead. Will Israel’s government act on this precedent, bringing the Knesset into alignment with Netanyahu’s statement, or will his words fade into the long list of promises unfulfilled? The world will be watching.
For the sake of truth and justice, it must become more than a passing remark. The Armenian Genocide is not a bargaining chip, nor a tool of political diversion. It is a historical reality that demands acknowledgment, accountability, and remembrance. Netanyahu’s declaration has opened a door. Whether Israel steps through it will determine if this moment is remembered as a turning point—or as another hollow gesture from a leader skilled at the art of survival but unwilling to embrace the moral responsibility that history demands. Anything less would be an abdication of both justice and leadership.
(Mihran Kalaydjian has over twenty years of public affairs, government relations, legislative affairs, public policy, community relations and strategic communications experience. He is a leading member of the community and a devoted civic engagement activist for education spearheading numerous academic initiatives in local political forums. Mihran is also the President of Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure of TCCI)
