Jerusalem Armenian Patriarchate Accuses Azerbaijan of Influencing Israeli Vote on Armenian Genocide Recognition

The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem has accused Azerbaijan of influencing Israel’s decision to remove a proposed resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide from the Knesset’s voting agenda, calling the development a troubling sign of foreign interference in Israel’s democratic process.

In a statement released on July 26, the Patriarchate said it was deeply disappointed that the measure was withdrawn before lawmakers could vote on it. The Church warned that allowing an outside government to shape what Israel’s parliament debates raises serious concerns about the independence of the country’s legislative process.

The Patriarchate specifically pointed to Azerbaijan, arguing that it is alarming for the government in Baku to have the ability to affect political and moral decisions inside Israel. It said the concern is even greater because Azerbaijan is responsible for the forced displacement of more than 120,000 indigenous Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, describing the 2023 exodus as ethnic cleansing.

“The Knesset’s legislative agenda and deliberations should remain under the sovereign responsibility of the State of Israel,” the statement said.

Reaffirming its longstanding position, the Patriarchate said the Armenian Genocide is an undeniable historical fact supported by extensive historical evidence and cannot be subject to political calculations. It renewed its call on Israel to officially recognize the genocide and join the 32 countries that have already done so.

The Church also urged Turkey to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide and abandon policies that, in its view, seek to distort the historical record. It said genuine and lasting reconciliation between Armenians and Turks can only be achieved through acknowledgment of historical truth.

The Patriarchate emphasized that its appeal is rooted not only in history but also in its own experience. Following the Armenian Genocide, it sheltered countless survivors and orphaned children who found refuge in the Holy Land. It said preserving the memory of the victims and passing their legacy to future generations remains one of its enduring responsibilities.

The statement concluded by reaffirming the Armenian Apostolic Church’s historic role in protecting the Armenian people’s identity and collective memory, particularly during centuries when Armenians lived without an independent state.

“The memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide will forever remain in the prayers of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church,” the Patriarchate said, expressing hope that their memory will remain sacred in the hearts of Armenians and in the conscience of humanity.

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