Published On 7/6/2026
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Last update: 19:24 (Mecca time)
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, citing officials, revealed escalating tension between Tel Aviv and Baku, following the Israeli government’s announcement of its decision to recognize the “genocide” of the Armenians, in a step that Azerbaijan considered crossing a red line.
The newspaper quoted officials familiar with relations between the two countries that the Israeli government’s decision to recognize the “genocide in Armenia” had led to a deeper crisis in Israeli-Azerbaijani relations than was apparent.
The officials stated that Baku considers this step tantamount to “Israel crossing a red line” and believes that Israel has failed to “return the favor” for the support that Azerbaijan has provided to it since the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
According to the newspaper, Azerbaijan’s objections to the Israeli government’s decision are mainly focused on the following two issues:
- The method of making the decision and the message it carries, as Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar did not speak with his Azerbaijani counterpart until after the decision was published, in order to inform him of the latest developments instead of consulting him.
- Israel’s lack of consideration for the sensitivity of the issue for Azerbaijan, especially in its support for the Armenian version of the history between the two countries, with the accusations that Israel faces of ethnic cleansing and committing genocide in Gaza.
In addition to the historical dispute, relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia are extremely sensitive, as the two countries fought a war in 2023 that ended with Azerbaijan taking full control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
In the early 1990s, about one million Azerbaijanis were displaced from their homes in the disputed territory, and later became refugees in their homeland.
Baku views with great concern the activity of the Armenian National Committee of America, which was among the pivotal forces calling for international recognition of the “Armenian Genocide.”
disappointment
So far, the Israeli government’s decision reflects double disappointment in Baku. An official revealed to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper the reason for this: “Azerbaijan has not announced its position against Israel regarding Gaza, Lebanon, or Iran, despite the international campaign and pressure exerted on it. On the other hand, Azerbaijanis feel that Israel has not shown the same amount of interest.”
An official asks the newspaper questions about why “Israel is risking its good relations with Azerbaijan and damaging the trust that has been built between the two countries over many years,” in light of the boom in the tourism and aviation sector between the two capitals.
In its report on the crisis, the newspaper quoted officials – that the last time the Knesset considered putting this issue up for discussion, then Foreign Minister Yair Lapid communicated with his former Azerbaijani counterparts and listened to their objections. After that, a decision was made not to issue an official statement.
Currently, Baku hopes – according to the Israeli newspaper’s analysis – that the crisis will not worsen, and expects that the issue will not be put to a vote or approved in the Knesset.
Turkish anger
A week ago, the Israeli government unanimously approved Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s proposal to recognize the “Armenian Genocide” in the last years of the Ottoman Empire, in a move that exacerbated tensions with Türkiye.
The resolution calls for the condemnation of denying, belittling or distorting the historical truth of events. Türkiye rejects the description of genocide, while Azerbaijan – Israel’s strategic partner, which borders Iran and has close military relations with Tel Aviv – also expressed its rejection of the resolution.
The Turkish government described this move by Israel as a “political maneuver for revenge and to divert attention,” following direct Turkish criticism of the Israeli government’s policies in its war against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The official Anatolia Agency also quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying that Israel is trying to “cover up its crimes” and target Türkiye with slander.
Before the NATO summit was held in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in an interview with CNN Turk that Israeli policy and mentality have become a burden that humanity can no longer bear, indicating that Israel poses a problem for all of humanity.
