In Response to Erdogan: Saar to Propose Official Recognition of the Armenian Genocide to the Israeli Government

SadaNews: Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Saar stated that he will present a proposal to the Israeli government for official recognition of the Armenian genocide for approval in its upcoming session, according to a statement issued this evening (Thursday) by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Saar's step towards recognizing the Armenian genocide comes in light of the escalating crisis between Israel and Turkey, and ahead of the anticipated visit of American President Donald Trump to the country. The draft resolution states: "Based on the moral and historical duty, Israel recognizes the genocide committed against the Armenian people at the end of the Ottoman Empire. The proposal also stipulates the necessity of condemning the denial of these events, downplaying their significance, or distorting the historical truth about them. Despite the extensive and clear historical documentation, the Armenian genocide remains, to this day, the subject of an official campaign of denial and minimization, including the manipulation of history books, especially by Turkey." Saar's move comes in the context of the expected visit of American President Donald Trump to Turkey and his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ahead of the anticipated visit, the U.S. administration has begun promoting steps that may enhance the Turkish Air Force. In this context, the U.S. administration approved a deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars to sell engines for the Turkish stealth fighter "Kaan" (KAAN), which is a leading project in Turkey's defense industry. In Israel, there are fears that the U.S. administration's move will bring Turkey back on track to obtain F-35 aircraft, after Israel has worked for years in Washington to prevent such a deal.