The vote was expected to follow a unanimous Israeli Cabinet decision last month supporting recognition. However, the measure has now been put on hold as Israel navigates heightened regional tensions and shifting diplomatic priorities, News.Az reports, citing JNS.
The delay comes amid renewed instability in the Middle East after a ceasefire with Iran collapsed following continued Iranian attacks in the Gulf. It also follows a NATO summit in Turkiye, where Ankara reportedly renewed efforts to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets.
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The Cabinet had approved the proposal against the backdrop of worsening relations between Israel and Turkiye. Ties have deteriorated sharply over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s repeated criticism of Israel and its military campaign in Gaza, prompting Israeli officials to advance a measure that previous governments had avoided.
An Israeli official confirmed on Sunday that the planned Knesset vote had been suspended but did not provide a reason or indicate whether it would be rescheduled.
The timing is significant because the Knesset is expected to begin its summer recess at the end of the week and will remain out of session until national elections on Oct. 27, making it unlikely that the issue will return for debate before then.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who introduced the proposal to the Cabinet, did not publicly comment on the decision. His office did not respond to requests for comment.
Israel has historically stopped short of officially recognizing the Armenian deaths as genocide despite repeated domestic calls to do so. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously described the events as genocide, the country has never completed the formal parliamentary process needed to adopt that position.
Turkey strongly criticized last month’s Cabinet decision, calling it politically motivated. The latest pause in the parliamentary process may be viewed as an effort to avoid further escalating tensions between the two countries during a volatile period for the region.
The issue has also drawn attention from Azerbaijan, which condemned the Cabinet’s recognition decision and urged Israel to reverse it. Azerbaijan maintains close strategic ties with both Israel and Turkiye and has often sought to preserve relations between the two partners.
Israel and Azerbaijan have built a strong partnership centered on defense, energy and regional security cooperation. In 2023, Azerbaijan became the first Shiite-majority country to open an embassy in Israel, reinforcing a relationship that has remained intact despite broader instability across the Middle East.
