Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s retreat from presenting recognition of the Armenian Genocide before the Knesset was not a technical or procedural step, but rather the result of a complex political and diplomatic battle, linked to sensitive strategic interests with Azerbaijan, the most important of which is supplying Israel with more than 40% of its oil needs.

According to a report by journalist Anna Barsky in the Maariv newspaper, the Israeli government’s decision to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, which was unanimously approved at the end of June, did not reach a vote in the Knesset, after political and diplomatic moves that took place behind the scenes.

The information revealed that the decision was not frozen, contrary to previous estimates, due to direct intervention from Netanyahu’s office, but rather as a result of the movement of the ultra-orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, after they received communications from parties in Azerbaijan.

On June 28, the Israeli government unanimously approved Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s proposal to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide.

The resolution stipulated that Israel recognized the genocide committed against the Armenians in the late Ottoman Empire, and condemned any attempt to deny, belittle, or distort historical truth.

“It is never too late to do the right thing,” Sa’ar said during the government session, stressing that the decision carries a moral and historical dimension.

But Baku had made clear, even before the decision was approved, its objection to the step.

According to Maariv, on June 26, that is, two days before the government session, a phone call took place between Sa’ar and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister said during the call that Israel’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide may harm the complex relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the reconciliation efforts between the two countries, which comes within the peace plan that the United States is working to advance under the leadership of President Donald Trump.

According to sources familiar with the details, Bayramov conveyed to Sa’ar a message stating that Baku is not satisfied with the Israeli move, and prefers that the decision not be approved within the government.

However, the Israeli government did not respond to the request, and ratified the decision without any objection.

After approval by the government, the decision was to be presented to the Knesset to give it parliamentary cover.

The proposal was included twice as an urgent proposal on the agenda, but was removed both times and was ultimately not put to a vote.

Maariv revealed that the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties were behind the disruption of the vote.

According to the information, several members of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan, including the rabbi of the Sephardic community in Baku, Zamir Isayev, conducted a series of contacts with prominent members of the Knesset from the Haredi parties during the days that followed the government’s decision.

The communications focused on warning that the Knesset’s approval of recognition may harm peace efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and may also negatively affect the growing strategic relations between Israel and Azerbaijan.

The Jewish parties who participated in the communications stressed the importance of Azerbaijan to Israel in confronting Iran, due to the common borders that link it with the Islamic Republic, and the close security cooperation between Jerusalem and Baku.

She also recalled the importance of Azerbaijan in supplying Israel with more than 40% of oil, in addition to additional energy resources.

Following these communications, Haredi Knesset members moved to stop the vote.

According to sources familiar with the file, the Haredim informed prominent figures in the Likud Party that if the decision was presented to the General Assembly of the Knesset, the Shas and United Torah Judaism blocs would vote against it, which could lead to its downfall.

In parallel, prominent officials in the opposition moved to form a blocking bloc against the decision.

Netanyahu’s advisors examined the map of positions within the Knesset, and found that there was no guaranteed majority to approve it.

Then Netanyahu decided not to put it to a vote, and to be content with the government’s decision.

In Azerbaijan, the Israeli government’s decision to recognize the Armenian Genocide was met with strong dissatisfaction, according to what was published by the newspaper “Haaretz.”

Last week, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa inside his palace in Baku.

The Azerbaijani presidency’s statement stressed Baku’s support for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in a step described as exceptional and unusual.

This position was seen as an indication of escalating criticism within Baku towards Israeli policy.

The statement also indicated that Azerbaijan continues to help the Palestinians, through UNRWA and other parties, and that it plans to build a secondary school in the territories of the Palestinian Authority.

The Israeli authorities followed up on these statements in light of the tension resulting from the government’s decision.

Israel still views Azerbaijan as one of its most important strategic partners in the region.

Over the years, security, intelligence, and economic relations between the two countries have deepened, while Azerbaijan’s location on the border with Iran gives it special importance to the Israeli security establishment.

The struggle over recognition of the Armenian Genocide brought together historical and moral considerations, security interests, regional relations, and the balance of power within the Knesset.

In the end, recognition remained limited to the government’s decision, without obtaining the approval of the Knesset.

Until now, the Azerbaijani ambassador is on a previously scheduled vacation, and no dialogue is taking place between Baku and Jerusalem at any level.

Thus, the Israeli retreat revealed that calculations related to oil and regional alliances remained stronger than the desire to confirm the decision within Parliament, transforming Netanyahu’s step from a declared historical position into an incomplete recognition limited by energy and political interests.