Israel postpones vote on Armenian genocide recognition until after October elections

The Israeli Knesset has postponed the final vote on the official recognition of the Armenian genocide until after the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27, 2026. Although the Israeli government unanimously approved the draft bill on June 28, following an initiative from the Foreign Ministry on June 26, the legislative process was frozen before the parliament's summer recess. The postponement stems from a combination of deteriorating diplomatic relations with Turkey and pressure from Azerbaijan, a key security and energy partner. Analysts suggest that the initial push for recognition was a political maneuver intended to pressure Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan due to his criticism of the war in Gaza. Conversely, the delay reflects Israel's reluctance to jeopardize strategic ties with Baku, which has signaled that regional decisions must consider its interests. Additional tensions involving Iran and Turkey's recent lobbying for F-35 fighter jets during the NATO summit have further complicated the regional landscape. The bill is not expected to be revisited before the new parliamentary session following the autumn elections.