Turkey critical of Netanyahu's seemingly acknowledged Armenian Massacre Recognition
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a strong condemnation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of using past tragedies for political purposes and seeking to cover up his own government's crimes.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry rejected Netanyahu's apparent recognition of the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocides committed by the Ottoman Empire. The condemnation comes amidst diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Israel over the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu's statement, made in an interview with US podcaster Patrick Bet-David, who is of Armenian and Assyrian descent, has been criticized by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The Israeli Prime Minister claimed, falsely, that Israel's Parliament had passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek genocide.
The massacres by the Ottoman Empire resulted in the deaths of nearly 1.5 million Armenians, approximately 750,000 Assyrians, and at least 1.1 million Greeks. Turkey, the successor state of the Ottoman Empire, has continuously denied the genocidal acts committed by the Ottomans.
The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a highly politicized issue for Israel due to its complex relations with Turkey. The Turkish Foreign Ministry previously accused Netanyahu of using past tragedies for political purposes and seeking to cover up his own government's crimes.
In response to a question about why no Israeli prime minister had recognized the genocide, Netanyahu stated, "I just did." However, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has rejected Netanyahu's remarks as contrary to historical and legal facts.
Netanyahu accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of supporting the Hamas terrorist organization, denying the Armenian Genocide, massacring Kurds within Turkey, and exiling dissidents and journalists.
The press release concluded by condemning and rejecting Netanyahu's remarks as contrary to historical and legal facts. It also accused Netanyahu of seeking to cover up the crimes perpetrated by himself and his government.
In March 2024, Netanyahu warned Erdogan over the latter's criticism of Israeli conduct in the war. Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel will take up the issue of the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek genocides committed by the Ottoman Empire, but no detailed current official stance was found in the search results.
This latest development in the ongoing diplomatic spat between Turkey and Israel is likely to further strain relations between the two countries. Both sides have been at odds over various issues, including the war in Gaza and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
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