For the very first time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he recognizes as genocide the mass killings of Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century.
In an interview with conservative American businessman and podcaster Patrick Bet-David on Tuesday, Netanyahu was asked why Israel does not formally recognize the massacres as genocide.
“I think we have. I think the Knesset passed a resolution to that effect,” he said, although no such legislation has been enacted.
When pressed on why no Israeli prime minister had done so, Netanyahu replied: “I just did. Here you go.”
Turkey has strongly criticized Israel over its military campaign in Gaza, accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians.
It is worth noting that only 34 countries have recognized the genocide, something Turkey strongly denies.
