The benefits for Armenia from Israel's recognition of the Armenian genocide have become a topic of discussion on social media.

The approval by the Israeli government of the bill recognizing the Armenian genocide does not bring practical benefits to Armenia; this decision was made in the geopolitical interests of Israel, social media users pointed out. Regardless of its motives, such a decision can bring bonuses to Armenia on the diplomatic stage, Armenian political scientists emphasized.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the Israeli government unanimously approved the bill for the official recognition of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire, which now must be approved by the Knesset (parliament). The Israeli authorities have been discussing this issue since at least 2008.

On the "Caucasian Knot" Facebook page*, posts about the Israeli government's recognition of the Armenian genocide garnered 669 likes and 120 comments by 0:20 Moscow time on July 2.

Users doubted the real benefit of Israel's decision

The decision is purely political in nature, commentators pointed out.

"In politics, there are really no permanent allies or personal feelings, only pragmatic state interests," expressed Chimnaz Majidova.

"This is just political blackmail. Pressure on the Turkish government," wrote Elman Musaev.

"Dirty politics," stated Arzu Hamidzade.

They recognized it, but does it change anything?

Users argue whether the recognition will change the situation. For instance, Sea Dervish emphasized that the genocide was remembered in Israel "after a hundred years." "What’s the point?" he wrote.

"So what? They recognized it, does it change anything?" agreed Romella Kasparova.

"This doesn’t warm or cool anyone anymore," believes Samir Azaqov.

"Why now? It’s been over 111 years," wrote Mireli Abdullayev.

Many users, on the contrary, welcomed the possible recognition of the Armenian genocide.

"Thank you, Israel," wrote Khachik Asatryan.

"Thank you, State of Israel," noted Nanora Nalbandian.

"Better late than never," believes Gio Liza.

A debate erupted in the comments about whether genocide occurred

Commentators with Armenian surnames point out that historical facts indisputably testify to the genocide.

"No matter how modern Turkey tries to rewrite history, Armenian manuscripts are preserved in the Vatican," wrote Emma Grigoryan.

"The Armenian genocide happened. The Holocaust happened. This is a fact," she added.

"The Armenian genocide happened, and this is a fact," supported Karin Ayrin.

"Unfortunately, it did happen. Not from books, but from the surviving grandmothers and grandfathers who told us. But these recognitions are not for us; they are for politicians," wrote Vardui Kocharyan.

"It happened, it happened. Both Armenians and Greeks and Assyrians - it all happened," stated Alex Tea.

"Unfortunately, it happened," added Mariam Sargsyan.

Other participants in the discussion doubted this.

"So there was no 'genocide' at all," wrote Ramis Babayev.

"Myths about the Armenian genocide," stated Ziya Abbasov.

"You can recognize everything, but was it all real?" commented Eduard Elizbarashvili.

Users linked Israel's initiative to geopolitics

Users discuss why the topic has been raised now. Some believe the reason is the events surrounding Gaza.

"This is just cheap revenge for Gaza," wrote Aliyev İlqar.

"Now Muslim countries recognize the genocide of Palestine," stated Aydin Abbasov.

"After this, there will be worldwide recognition of the genocide of the people of Palestine," wrote Guseyn Samedzade.

Comments discuss the consequences for Turkey.

14:14 25.04.2019

Scholars and politicians called Turkish society the key to recognizing the Armenian genocide

International recognition of the Armenian genocide is unable to change the Turkish authorities' attitude towards the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, Armenian scholars and politicians surveyed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe. In their opinion, only Turkish society can influence the state's position.

"One more country or one less. Nothing will change for Turkey," wrote Elbir Shukurov.

Many are surprised by Azerbaijan's active reaction.

"Why is Azerbaijan so concerned?" inquired Ella Grigoryan.

Some users believe that Israel's decision was a mistake.

"This is very reckless," wrote Elia Adil Zade.

"A very reckless and erroneous step," stated Guseyn Samedzade.

"Israel will regret this," believes Aydin Abbasov.

Some users pointed out that the decision has not yet been finalized.

"The Senate has not approved it yet," wrote Eldar Mamedov.

"I don't think the resolution will pass," believes Elman Musaev.

"Recognized? Skipping the Knesset?" wondered Ken Komendaryan.

"Did not recognize, just talk," added Venera Kyazimova.

There are also calls not to use history as a reason for new conflicts.

"Historical issues should not be used as a tool for political pressure," noted Ozonur Fatih.

Analysts debated the benefits of this decision for Armenia

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Israel is conditioned by geopolitical calculations; however, it gives Armenia the opportunity to use this step to implement its own agenda, Armenian analysts believe.

"The official recognition of the Armenian genocide by the Israeli government or any other state - such a decision should not particularly inspire us, although it is generally a positive development. The fact is that the recognition of the Armenian genocide has little value if it does not in any way restrain the ongoing Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression and hostile policies towards Armenia, nor does it contribute to improving the current extremely difficult geopolitical situation of the country," noted historian and political scientist, Doctor of Political Sciences Armen Aivazyan.

Dozens of states and international organizations that recognized the Armenian genocide in 2020-2023 did not take effective steps to condemn the attacks on Armenia and provide assistance to the Armenian side.

The political scientist reminded that "dozens of states and international organizations that recognized the Armenian genocide in 2020-2023 did not take effective steps to condemn the attacks on Armenia and provide assistance to the Armenian side, and continue to pursue policies that reinforce the consequences of this aggression."

In his opinion, Pashinyan's proposal to "not politicize" the genocide issue is nothing but bitter absurdity.

"Nikol Pashinyan's statement is essentially an official acceptance of one of the long-developed anti-Armenian theses to consider the Armenian Genocide exclusively as a historical event, detached from the current extremely difficult situation of the Republic of Armenia, the vital interests of the Armenian people, and the fundamental norms of international law," he emphasized.

Political scientists called Israel's statements a tool of political pressure

Political scientist Ara Poghosyan noted that Armenia's task is "not to be elated or disappointed, but to use this step to implement its own agenda."

"It is obvious that neither Israel nor any other state made such decisions for our beautiful eyes, not out of a sense of moral duty, and not for the triumph of justice, but, as always, based on their own interests and calculations. In this case, our task is to turn the result into political capital," the political scientist noted.

It would be nice if the tragedy of our people were not used as a tool of political pressure at convenient times.

Israel used the genocide issue for its own interests, pointed out political scientist Arthur Khachikyan.

"The recognition of the Armenian genocide by the Israeli government, as a political gesture, can only be welcomed. However, it would be nice if the tragedy of our people were not used as a tool of political pressure at convenient times. Especially not used as a tool of political pressure by those who continue to destroy the peaceful population of Palestine, and by those who supplied weapons to Azerbaijan, thereby allowing it to defeat and expel the Armenian population of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

International security expert Anna Davtyan-Gevogyan disagreed that the recognition of the Armenian genocide by the Israeli government has no practical significance for Armenia and the Armenian people.

"This step demonstrates that international recognition of the Armenian genocide does not depend on including this issue in Armenia's foreign policy agenda; on the contrary, Armenia finds itself in a more advantageous position when such decisions are made independently of its diplomatic efforts. Regardless of Israel's motives, the very fact of recognition is significant from the perspective of international law and genocide studies," she told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

She emphasized that recognition should not be confused with using the genocide issue in foreign policy bargaining.

"Recognition by Israel against the backdrop of strained relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara indicates that such decisions are largely conditioned by geopolitical calculations, rather than exclusively moral or humanitarian considerations," she pointed out.

Davtyan-Gevogyan emphasized that Yerevan's refusal to make this issue a subject of international negotiations does not mean denial of the Armenian genocide.

"The current situation should prompt Armenian society to rethink its approaches to the issue of international recognition of the Armenian genocide. The political lessons learned from this may prove more valuable in the long term than the previous emotional expectations that accompanied similar decisions by other states," she concluded.