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Netanyahu Recognizes Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides in Podcast Interview

His declaration marks a break from Israel's years of caution tied to relations with Turkey.

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Armenian Americans commemorate the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day with a protest outside the Consulate of Turkey in Beverly Hills, Calif., Monday, April 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Overview

  • In an interview with Patrick Bet-David, the Israeli prime minister replied, "I just did," when asked to recognize the Ottoman-era mass killings as genocide.
  • He said the Knesset had already passed a resolution, though multiple reports note no formal parliamentary vote has been adopted.
  • Armenian activist Kegham Balian and others argued the comment does not amount to official state recognition.
  • Netanyahu included Armenians, Pontic Greeks and Assyrians in his acknowledgment, a formulation likely to draw attention in Greece and Cyprus.
  • Historians estimate 1–1.5 million Armenians and hundreds of thousands of Greeks and Assyrians were killed, while Turkey rejects the term genocide and had not commented in the latest reports.