Armenian Genocide Acknowledged by Israel: Justice and Memory Prevail
It is truly a historic moment, not only in the Middle East but on the global stage: Israel has officially recognized, through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Armenian people’s suffering at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in the early twentieth century. This acknowledgment came during Netanyahu’s appearance on the widely followed PBD Podcast with host and researcher Patrick Bet-David on August 27, signaling a profound shift in Israel’s stance on one of the twentieth century’s gravest crimes against humanity.
When asked why Israel had not recognized the genocide earlier, Netanyahu responded, “In fact, I think we recognized it; I believe the Knesset passed a law on this matter.” He then added, “Yes, I just did that now. You’re welcome.” With this decisive statement, Netanyahu ended years of political hesitation, placing Israel among the 33 countries that have officially acknowledged this historical truth, one that only those who have set aside their humanity could dispute.
Between Politics and Human Memory
Israel’s previous approach to this issue was far from straightforward. Although a parliamentary committee recognized in 2016 that the Ottoman massacres against the Armenians constituted “genocide,” a similar Knesset vote was canceled in 2018 due to opposition from Netanyahu’s government at the time, fearing negative repercussions for relations with Turkey. The recent recognition, however, closes the chapter on political ambiguity, affirming that human memory must transcend diplomatic calculations.
The Armenian Genocide: Atrocities and Pyramids of Skulls
The Armenian Genocide was not random violence; it was a systematic plan aimed at erasing Armenians from their historic homelands. On April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) and deported them inland, where most perished, initiating mass killings and forced marches later known as the “Death Marches.”
Hundreds of thousands of women, children, and elderly were forced to traverse deserts without food or water; many perished from thirst and starvation before reaching execution sites. Historical records recount harrowing testimonies of torture, sexual assault, and the construction of “pyramids of skulls” to instill terror. Children were not spared; they were killed brutally or forced to witness the slaughter of their families.
The Significance of Israeli Recognition
Israel’s recognition today is not merely symbolic; it is a long-overdue correction of historical narrative. Israel, born from the tragedy of the Holocaust, understands better than most the consequences of denying a people’s collective suffering. Recognizing the Armenian Genocide sends a clear message: crimes against humanity, regardless of the perpetrators or the victims, must be named for what they truly are: genocide.
Turkey and Continued Denial
Turkey continues to deny these events, describing them as a “tragedy” or “collateral damage of war,” rejecting the term “genocide.” Israel’s recognition, however, tightens the noose on such denial and reinforces that historical truth cannot be erased, no matter how much time passes.
This recognition also evokes a pivotal personal moment in my life.
I vividly recall unforgettable days in Egypt during 2013 and 2014, when this issue was among the most pressing matters I personally and institutionally pursued, as founder of the Popular Front Against the Islamization of Egypt. At that time, I called on the Egyptian government to formally acknowledge the genocide endured by Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Beyond official channels, I sought to raise public awareness of this tragedy through media appearances and interviews, which resonated more deeply than I anticipated.
Together with a group of Armenian Egyptian friends in Alexandria, we filed a lawsuit demanding official recognition of the genocide. Initially, the case was frozen and later dismissed. I did not yet realize that Egypt’s authoritarian military regime, despite its differences with Turkey, would side with the Ottoman perpetrators against Armenians and other non-Muslims.
Amid these efforts, I was invited in 2015 by the Armenian government to participate in the centennial commemoration of the genocide. I traveled to Yerevan, partook in this historic event, and received honors that left a lasting impression. I also appeared on national television, representing the position of the “Popular Front Against the Islamization of Egypt,” affirming the acknowledgment of this horrific crime.
This recognition was inscribed on an Egyptian papyrus in three languages: Hieroglyphic, Armenian, and English, and placed in the Genocide Museum, where I stood before images vividly documenting the atrocities of that period.
Conclusion
Israel’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide marks a historic step that transcends politics and reaches the core of human conscience. It positions Israel among nations committed to historical justice and the preservation of human memory. This decision enhances Israel’s moral credibility internationally, provides Armenians with a sense of justice after more than a century of suffering and denial, and affirms that human memory endures beyond neglect, and that acknowledging historical truths is inseparable from justice and global conscience.
