Newsletters
Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unprecedented recognition of "Armenian genocide" claims, calling it a politically motivated attempt to exploit historical tragedies.
"Netanyahu's statement regarding the 1915 events is an attempt to exploit painful past events with political motives," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry connected Netanyahu's comments to international legal proceedings against him, stating he is attempting to deflect from current allegations.
"Netanyahu, who is on trial over his role in the genocide committed against the Palestinian people, is trying to cover up the crimes committed by himself and his government," it added.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry rejected Netanyahu's characterization of the 1915 events during the Ottoman Empire's final years.
"We condemn and reject this statement, which is incompatible with historical and legal facts."
Netanyahu made his comments Tuesday during Patrick Bet-David's podcast when asked about whether Israel had officially recognized the so-called Armenian genocide claims.
"I think we have. I think the Knesset passed a resolution to that effect," Netanyahu said, though no such legislation exists.
When asked why no Israeli prime minister had previously recognized the claims, Netanyahu responded, "I just did. Here you go."
Türkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesman Omer Celik criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 1915 events statement, saying in a social media post that Netanyahu "added a new one to his political lies," after Netanyahu said he recognizes what he described as genocide during the 1915 events.
"Netanyahu, who leads the genocide network, added a new one to his political lies with his statement on the 1915 events," Celik said.
"It is clear that every word spoken by someone who should be tried for the crime of genocide before history, law and the conscience of humanity is a lie," he added.
"Türkiye manages all its historical agendas openly, through law and diplomacy. The statements and decisions made by our President regarding the 1915 events have strengthened Türkiye’s self-confident policy," Celik said.
"Netanyahu is someone who has been condemned by 'the conscience of history.' The words about history of a criminal condemned by history and the future carry no weight," he said.
1 min read
2 min read
