The Israeli government voted on Sunday to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, following a resolution proposal put forth by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar late last week, The Jerusalem Post reports.
“The Israeli government approved a short time ago the resolution I presented to it recognizing the Armenian genocide,” Sa’ar said following the vote. “It’s never too late to do the right thing.”
“This horrific genocide, which took place more than 100 years ago and regarding which there is no real dispute over the historical facts, included the murder of 1.5 million people and the destruction of an ancient cultural and historical heritage,” he said.
“In my view, it is our moral duty as Jews — and certainly as the state of the Jewish people — to make the decision we made today. I would like to thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his backing, and my fellow government ministers for their support,” the foreign minister said.
The resolution says Israel, “on the basis of moral and historical duty,” recognizes the genocide committed against the Armenian people in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. It also calls for condemning denial, minimization or distortion of the historical truth of the events.
