Azerbaijan slams ally Israel's recognition of Armenian genocide

Azerbaijan has denounced Israel's decision to recognize the World War I massacres of Armenians as genocide, a move that has strained relations between the two allied nations. Azerbaijan's foreign ministry called the decision "of serious concern," stating that such actions do not foster reconciliation or mutual understanding.

The ministry further asserted that these actions "deepen existing divisions and undermine efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region." Azerbaijan urged the Israeli government to reconsider its stance. This development occurs as Azerbaijan and Armenia, despite their long-standing conflict over Karabakh, are actively pursuing steps toward a comprehensive peace agreement.

Israel's recognition is widely interpreted as a rebuke to Turkiye, Azerbaijan's closest foreign partner. Historically, Israeli governments have avoided formal recognition of the Armenian genocide to maintain ties with Turkiye. However, recent tensions, particularly following the war in Gaza, have seen Turkiye frequently accuse Israel of committing genocide in Palestinian territories, accusations Israel denies.

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Such actions do not contribute to reconciliation or mutual understanding. Instead, they deepen existing divisions and undermine efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region. We call on the Israeli government to reconsider this decision