Azerbaijan on Monday issued a sharp condemnation of Israel’s decision to recognize the Armenian genocide, expressing “deep concern” over the move a day after it was approved by the government.
In a statement, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said Israel’s decision amounted to a “distortion of the truth” regarding the events of 1915 and argued that turning complex historical issues into matters of political decision-making, without a legal or scientific basis, was “unacceptable.”
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Azerbaijan issued a sharp condemnation of Israel’s decision to recognize the Armenian genocide
Azerbaijan’s opposition to recognition of the Armenian genocide stems in part from its long-running conflict with Armenia and its close identification with Turkey, which carried out the massacres under the Ottoman Empire. The condemnation was issued despite a conversation between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and his Azerbaijani counterpart before the Israeli government approved the decision.
Azerbaijan called on Israel to reconsider the step, saying such moves do not contribute to reconciliation and mutual understanding, but instead deepen disputes and harm efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.
Israel’s government decision stated that “based on the moral and historical obligation, Israel will recognize the genocide committed against the Armenian people in the final period of the Ottoman Empire.” The proposal also said Israel must condemn denial, minimization or distortion of the historical truth of those events.
Relations with Azerbaijan have been one of the reasons Israel had avoided recognizing the Armenian genocide until now. In the past, Baku sent messages warning Israel that such recognition would damage the strategic relationship between the two countries. Israel relies on Azerbaijan, especially because of its border with Iran and against the backdrop of major arms deals signed between the two countries.
Azerbaijan called on Israel to reconsider the step
(Photo: AFP, EMMANUEL DUNAND)
Turkey also condemned Israel’s decision on Sunday, with its Foreign Ministry claiming the recognition was “a political decision intended to whitewash crimes committed by the Israeli army against the Palestinian population in Gaza.”
“The Israeli government, which has systematically persecuted the Palestinian people before the eyes of the world and is now standing trial at the International Court of Justice for genocide against the population of Gaza, is seeking to hide its own crimes through a political decision it adopted regarding the events of 1915,” the Turkish statement said.
Rabbi Zamir Isayev, a leader of Azerbaijan’s Jewish community, also criticized the Israeli move on Monday.
“I strongly oppose the Israeli government’s decision regarding recognition of the fake ‘Armenian genocide,’” he wrote. “I see this step as wrong, one-sided and politically motivated. Historical issues of this magnitude must not be decided by votes of politicians, and must not be turned into propaganda tools or political bargaining chips.”
He added that the events of 1915 should be examined “objectively, honestly and professionally, based on archival documents and the views of independent historians.”
“Replacing historical research with political declarations is a dangerous path,” Isayev wrote. “I strongly oppose this initiative and hope the Knesset does not adopt this mistaken decision.”