Still Without Official Recognition: Armenian Community in Israel Commemorates 111th Genocide Anniversary

BY YARON WEISS

Every year, the small yet resilient Armenian community in the holy land comes together to honor the memory of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century — the Armenian Genocide. This year marked 111 years since the systematic massacres and deportations that claimed the lives of approximately 1.5 million Armenians.

Although the State of Israel has yet to grant official recognition to the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian community continues its annual commemorations with deep dignity and determination.

The Central Event in Jerusalem
The main commemoration ceremony took place on the morning of Friday, April 24, at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. The event was organized by the Armenian Patriarchate and was attended by the Ambassador of Armenia to Israel, Dr. Arman Akopian, along with members of the local Armenian community. As in previous years, no senior Israeli government officials were present.

During the ceremony, prayers were offered for the souls of the 1.5 million martyrs of the Armenian Genocide.

The day before, on Thursday evening, the local Armenian community in Jerusalem organized a traditional memorial march through the streets of the city. This march, which has become an annual tradition, was this year joined by dozens of Jewish activists — including members of “Window to Mount Zion” and volunteers from the ‘Religious Freedom Data Center’ led by Yisca Harani.

The Jewish participants joined the march for two important reasons. First, out of a deep moral urgency: with every year that passes without official recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the State of Israel, many feel it has become increasingly important and morally necessary for Israel to finally acknowledge this historic injustice. Second, because of the fresh wounds from the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in September 2023 — when nearly 120,000 Armenians were forcibly expelled from their ancestral homes while centuries-old churches, monasteries and cultural heritage were systematically destroyed. This pain was intensified by the knowledge that Israeli weapons were sold to Azerbaijan and used during the military operations that led to this ethnic cleansing.

The joint participation of Armenians and Jews in the Jerusalem march sent a powerful message of human and moral solidarity.

Additional Ceremonies and Important Commitment in Haifa
Parallel ceremonies were held in Petah Tikva, near the monument erected by local residents of Armenian origin.

In Haifa — the only city in Israel that has officially recognized the Armenian Genocide — a moving ceremony took place in the presence of Mayor Yona Yahav. During the event, Mayor Yahav made a significant and welcome announcement: he pledged to work toward including the topic of the Armenian Genocide in the school curricula in Haifa.

“We must teach the next generation about the Armenian Genocide,” said Mayor Yahav, “so that similar horrors will never be repeated in the future.”

Father Dirair Sahak Hovakimian, the priest responsible for the Armenian community in Haifa and the North on behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate, delivered a powerful speech:

“If the Armenian people forget their history and the horrors committed against them, it will stain our future and deserve condemnation not only from future generations but from all nations. That is why we must continue to fight to restore morality and justice to their rightful place.”

He expressed warm gratitude to the Haifa municipality for standing with the Armenian community despite heavy external pressures.

A Call for Justice and Memory
The central ceremony in Jerusalem, together with the memorial march organized by the local Armenian community — to which Jewish activists joined in solidarity — served as a poignant reminder that the struggle for historical truth and justice is not only Armenian, but universal.

As long as official recognition by the State of Israel remains absent, the voice of the Armenian community in Jerusalem and across the country continues to echo clearly: memory must be preserved, and new atrocities must be prevented.

May the memory of the 1.5 million martyrs of the Armenian Genocide be eternal.

May the wounds of Artsakh heal, and may the call for truth and justice grow stronger with every passing year.