Israel’s decision to recognize the Armenian genocide has triggered a deeper crisis with Azerbaijan than has been publicly visible, with officials familiar with the relationship saying Baku views the move as Israel “crossing a red line” after years of Azerbaijani support for Jerusalem.
According to those officials, Azerbaijani leaders were particularly angered by the way the decision was handled. They said Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke with his Azerbaijani counterpart only after the decision had already been published, in order to update him rather than consult him. From Baku’s perspective, the officials said, the move was presented as a fait accompli rather than as part of a dialogue.
The sensitivity in Azerbaijan goes far beyond diplomacy. Officials pointed to the country’s long conflict with Armenia and to the trauma of the Karabakh war, including the displacement of nearly one million Azerbaijanis from their homes in the early 1990s. They also said Baku closely watches the Armenian National Committee of America, one of the leading organizations pushing international recognition of the Armenian genocide, and sees a connection between that campaign and accusations now being leveled against both Israel and Azerbaijan.
One official familiar with the matter said Azerbaijan feels Israel failed to show the same consideration that Baku showed Jerusalem throughout the war, noting that Azerbaijan did not publicly turn against Israel over Gaza, Lebanon, or Iran despite international pressure. “The feeling is that Israel did not understand Azerbaijan’s sensitivity,” the official said. “For Baku, this is a red line.”
Officials also said the move damaged trust with one of Israel’s friendliest regional partners — a country with very little antisemitism, growing Israeli tourism, and expanding air links between Baku and Tel Aviv. They noted that the last time the issue came up in the Knesset, then-Foreign Minister Yair Lapid consulted Azerbaijani officials in advance and the matter was not publicly advanced.
For now, Baku is hoping the crisis does not deepen further and expects the issue not to move forward in the Knesset, or at the very least not to be brought to a vote or approved.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
One Response
Can somebody please explain why Israel felt this was something of importance to them. What did they have to gain! Azerbaijan is a country friendly towards Israel and that should be more precious: I think.