Conscience or convenience: What's behind Israel's recognition of Armenian Genocide?

Israel's government has unanimously approved Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's proposal to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The official statement emphasizes Israel's moral obligation, but this raises questions about why this obligation is being acted upon only now.

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That immediately raises a simple question. If this was indeed a moral obligation, why did it suddenly become one only now?

For decades, successive Israeli governments avoided recognizing the Armenian Genocide, prioritizing strategic and diplomatic considerations, particularly concerning Turkey. Politicians from various political spectrums had proposed recognition, but every government ultimately refrained. The moral question itself, however, remained constant.

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For decades, successive Israeli governments declined to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Politicians from across the political spectrum proposed doing so, yet every government ultimately chose not to, citing strategic and diplomatic considerations.

This decision highlights how national interests have historically shaped foreign policy. If the current recognition is a diplomatic gesture, it would be more honest to frame it as such rather than as the fulfillment of a moral obligation. Supporters might argue that doing the right thing, even late, is still commendable.

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Today, that strategic reality has changed.

However, if recognition is based on an unchanging moral principle, it prompts a difficult question: would a future Israeli government reverse this decision if relations with Turkey were to be fully restored? If the political calculus can change based on geopolitical circumstances, then policy is guiding morality, not the other way around. The article suggests that questions surrounding the events of 1915 should primarily be left to historians.

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If recognition is truly based on an unchanging moral principle, would a future Israeli government ever be justified in reversing it if relations with Turkey were one day fully restored?