Armenian Parliament elects new speaker as Catholicos skips session for first t

Emil Lazarian
OC Media
Aug 4, 2026
by OC Media

4 August 2026 (Updated:  about 8 hours ago)•4 min read

The first session of parliament was held amidst political reshuffles inside the ruling Civil Contract party, opposition leaders facing criminal charges or placed under investigation, and the conflict between the church and government deepening further.

Civil Contract holds 64 seats in parliament, followed by the Strong Armenia Alliance, which holds 29, and Armenia Alliance with 12.

The largest opposition party, the Strong Armenia Alliance, had earlier named Narek Karapetyan as the leader of its parliamentary faction. Narek Karapetyan led most campaigning efforts for the Alliance during the elections on behalf of his uncle, Samvel Karapetyan, the formal leader of the group, who was barred from running for parliament on account of his dual citizenship. He is currently under house arrest and is facing criminal charges of calling for the usurpation of power and money-laundering.

The other opposition force, Armenia Alliance, went to parliament without its leader, former President Robert Kocharyan, who once again left his seat unclaimed.

After the elections in June both Narek Karapetyan and Kocharyan were stripped of their parliamentary immunity by the Central Election Commission (CEC), allowing prosecutors to place them under investigation.

Catholicos Karekin II was also absent from the session, a break from his tradition of attending inaugural parliamentary sessions.

Civil Contract’s new speaker

Civil Contract and Pashinyan made several changes to the cabinet and party’s compositions since the June elections.

In early July, Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan left office after unexpectedly losing Civil Contract’s backing to remain on as speaker.

Armenian Parliamentary speaker Simonyan leaves office after losing ruling party’s backing

The party nominated Ruben Rubinyan as his replacement on Sunday. Rubinyan, 36, served simultaneously as Armenia’s official envoy in the Armenia–Turkey normalisation process and as Simonyan’s deputy since 2021.

He was elected as speaker on Monday, with Civil Contract voting unanimously in favour, Strong Armenia voting against, and Armenia Alliance abstaining. Rubinyan promised ‘to be the speaker of the entire [parliament]’.

In a short exchange with journalists after the first session on Sunday, Rubinyan was asked if the Catholicos was invited.

‘I do not know any Catholicos now’, Rubinyan said in response.

Tensions between Pashinyan’s government and the Church have continued to simmer since Civil Contract’s reelection. It was triggered after Pashinyan  criticised the Church’s leadership for failing to properly maintain churches across the country. As accusations against the Church, and specifically against Karekin II, continued to grow, Pashinyan gradually made clear that he was seeking to oust the Catholicos.

Also on Sunday, Rubinyan stood for a traditional questioning by MPs. Opposition MPs appeared to have focused on Rubinyan’s family’s finances, his connections with Turkish nationals he had met while conducting research in Istanbul from 2017–2018 under the Hrant Dink Foundation’s fellowship programme, and whether he was particularly close to any Turkish people or had ties to the Turkish state.

Monday’s session primarily focused on Civil Contract’s candidate for deputy speaker, Hayk Konjoryan, and two controversies in which he was embroiled.

The first concerned his brother, who was beaten on the night of 23 July in an incident the Investigative Committee says led to a criminal case for ‘physical abuse and hooliganism by a group of individuals’. A relative of one of those accused of attacking Konjoryan’s brother alleged that he had repeatedly harassed their household with sexual insults beforehand.

In the second case, RFE/RL’s reported that Konjoryan’s wife, Haypost CEO Shushan Aleksanyan, received a $10,000 salary despite Haypost’s deteriorating finances in 2025. In response, Konjoryan claimed in parliament on Monday that his wife is the lowest-paid CEO in Haypost’s history.

On Monday, Pashinyan also formed his new government, mostly retaining its existing structure, but replacing the Minister of High-Tech Industry and his Chief of Staff.

He appointed Davit Tadevosyan as High-Tech Minister, replacing Mkhitar Hayrapetyan. Tadevosyan has a background in mining, metallurgy, and large industrial project management. Pashinyan appointed Armenia’s former Ambassador to the US, Lilith Makunts, as his Chief of Staff, replacing  Arayik Harutyunyan.

In the current composition of parliament, Pashinyan is six votes short of the two-thirds needed to amend the constitution as precondition for finalising the peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

Although he insists that the change of constitution is not based on Azerbaijan’s demands, Azerbaijani officials have repeatedly stated that Armenia’s constitution contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan and demanded that it be changed, making it one of the biggest roadblocks to the signing of the peace treaty initialled in Washington in August 2025.

Armenia’s constitution references the Declaration of Independence, which in turn says the declaration was ‘based’ on a joint decision made by Soviet Armenia’s Supreme Council and the Nagorno-Karabakh National Council on the ‘reunification’ of the two territories.

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Christian Zionists ignore reality of West Bank living, Palestinian Christian l

Emil Karabekian
Jerusalem Post
Aug 4, 2026

Palestinian Christian leaders told CNN that US Christian Zionists ignore their experiences and fund West Bank settlements, while Mike Huckabee defended evangelical support for Israel.

ByRUBY SADIKMAN, MAYA ZANGER-NADISAUGUST 3, 2026 19:31

Palestinian Christian leaders called out American Christian Zionists for ignoring the experiences of Palestinian Christians in Israel, claiming their interpretation of “biblical prophecy” doesn’t align with reality in an interview with CNN on Sunday.

The leaders specifically encouraged evangelicals to visit Palestinian Christians in the West Bank and get a firsthand account of their experiences. 

“Our experience has been when pastors and lay people come to Palestine, see the walls, see the settlements, meet with families struggling just to survive in their land – that’s when their eyes are opened,” Father Munther Isaac, the director of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice, told CNN.

Isaac said that Christians are under attack daily in Jerusalem, and by sticking with the argument that Israel belongs to the Jewish people, Christian Zionists are rendering their experiences invisible.

“Theology has been weaponized,” he said. “These are Christians who are funding and supporting the major threat on our existence in the land today.”

Christians in Bethlehem receive the Holy Fire at the Church of the Nativity, after it arrived from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, on Holy Saturday according to the Eastern Orthodox calendar, on April 11, 2026. (credit: MOSAB SHAWER/AFP via Getty Images)

Father Bashar Fawadleh of Taybeh, the last fully Christian town in the West Bank whose population is steadily dwindling, told CNN that his congregants are afraid to harvest from their olive groves due to Israeli settler violence.

“If I have the opportunity to leave, I would leave and not stay in this town, because there is no future for me or my children,” one parishoner said.

Christian Zionism funds 80 Israeli communities in West Bank

The Christian leaders are also concerned over how much funding for Israeli settlement growth in the West Bank is coming from the Christian Zionist movement.

The faith-based groups Christians United for Israel (CUFI) and Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) both urge donations to support Israeli communities in the West Bank, highlighting Bible verses on their websites.

In their eyes, the Bible tells Christians to support Jews in the Holy Land to welcome a Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the end of the world, and an eternal afterlife.

Being a Christian Zionist means following God’s word as stated in the Bible that He gave the Land of Israel to the Jewish people,” Kimberly Troup, director of the US office for CFOIC, told CNN.

However, Isaac asserted that this idealistic vision of Christians living in Israel is not the reality.

“Given the threat of settlers over our lives these days – an actual threat against our lives as Palestinian Christians – these are Christians who are funding and supporting the major threat on our existence in the land today,” Isaac said. “What this shows is, again, that we are not in their plan. They don’t think of us. They don’t see us.”

Isaac underscored that the goal of his community of Palestinian Christians is not to disconnect from scripture, but to read and interpret it in a more pragmatic way that takes on-the-ground experiences into account.

In his opinion, younger generations are more open-minded and willing to question the assumptions that have harmful impacts on Palestinian Christians. He told CNN that evangelicals seem to be “warming up” to his cause as he tours the US in an effort to raise awareness of the existence of his community.

Palestinian leaders say Christian Zionism is outdated

Palestinian Christian leaders say that Christian Zionism feels outdated, with Isaac poking fun to CNN about how Baptist minister turned US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is “living in the 7th Century BCE.” 

Huckabee responded to the jab, denying that people overlook Palestinian Christians.

“Evangelicals believe the Bible – ALL of it,” Huckabee said. “It’s not a cafeteria where we pick and choose what fits our own prejudices and desires. There is nothing ‘racist’ about believing what the Bible clearly says about God’s promises to the Jews, and the Jewish faith is the foundation of the Christian faith. I hope Rev. Isaac joins evangelicals in calling for an adherence to the authority of Scripture.”

Christian Zionism is broadly defined as a theological and political movement within Christianity that supports the return of Jewish people to a Jewish homeland in Israel, per Encyclopedia Britannica.

The movement has many streams, and modern American evangelical Christian Zionist organizations, such as the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), support the State of Israel through lobbying the US government and donating funds.

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Arman Tsarukyan Defends Grappling Title At Hype: Armenia

Torgomian Varazdat
Aug 4, 2026

Arman Tsarukyan just continued his detour into the world of professional grappling with yet another impressive win, this time at Hype Fighting: Armenia on August 1st, 2026. The MMA veteran has spent years working his way up the lightweight rankings and he’s finally within touching distance of a UFC title, but he’s chosen to explore other avenues instead of focusing on his main career. Over the past year he’s been competing in a number of Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling matches all around the world, taking some time away from MMA to test his grappling skills before he makes his return against Charles Oliveira at UFC 331.

Several of these matches have taken place at Hype Fighting events, the most recent of which saw Tsarukyan take home a title. He outwrestled and eventually submitted fellow UFC veteran Muhammad Mokaev at Hype Fighting: Brazil just a few months ago, putting on one of the best performances that the promotion has ever seen. Tsarukyan put Momaev to sleep with a rear-naked choke in that match and although this latest one didn’t have the same dramatic finish, it was equally impressive. His opponent was a little less experienced though, as he was booked against former wrestler and fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuria.

Tsarukyan came out quickly against Baiyanpuria, looking to impose his will on him as early as he could. The tactic worked well too, as he was able to find a rear-clinch and launch Baiyanpuria into the air inside the first two minutes. It was a clean takedown that allowed Tsarukyan to secure side control as soon as they landed. He didn’t hesitate to collect an arm while he was there, transitioning into an armbar and dropping back to start extending it. Baiyanpuria tapped quickly and the referee called an end to the match, with Tsarukyan leaving as the champion once again.

Hype Fighting shared the footage of Arman Tsarukyan defending his belt at Hype: Armenia in a recent post to their official Instagram account:

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[Palestinian] Presidential Committee for Church Affairs Condemns Settler Attac

Liana Toganian
Al-Quds, Palestine
Aug 4, 2026

Presidential Committee for Church Affairs Condemns Settler Attack on Armenian Monastery in Jerusalem

The Presidential Higher Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine issued a strongly worded statement condemning a group of settlers for attacking the Armenian Monastery located in occupied East Jerusalem. The committee clarified that the attack included humiliating practices such as spitting at the entrance of the monastery and throwing stones towards it, emphasizing that these actions fall within attempts to restrict the authentic Christian presence in the Holy City.

The committee indicated in its official statement that this escalation is not an isolated incident, but rather comes within the context of a comprehensive colonial approach targeting churches, mosques, and clergy alike. It stressed that these practices aim to impose new facts on the ground in Jerusalem and the West Bank, coinciding with the ongoing comprehensive military aggression on the Gaza Strip, which constitutes a blatant violation of international laws guaranteeing freedom of worship and the protection of holy sites.

The committee linked the escalation of settler attacks in Jerusalem with the ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people in all occupied territories, especially with the martyrdom of 18 people in the Gaza Strip in recent hours. It considered that this synchronicity highlights the seriousness of the current stage in which the occupation and its settlers seek to eliminate the Palestinian presence and its holy sites through excessive force and systematic violations affecting people and stone.

In conclusion of its statement, the committee issued an urgent appeal to the international community to bear its legal and moral responsibilities towards what is happening in occupied Jerusalem. It demanded real pressure on the occupation authorities to rein in settler attacks and hold those involved accountable, while emphasizing the need to provide immediate international protection for Islamic and Christian holy sites as a global human and religious heritage that must not be violated.

This attack represents a new provocation targeting the Christian presence and its holy sites in the Holy City, and comes within a continuous series of colonial violations.

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Kurdish Press: Armenian Women’s Union: Syria’s future cannot be built without

Chmshkian Vicken
Aug 4, 2026

A member of the Armenian Women’s Union, Hanaa Al-Hamada, emphasized the richness and diversity of Syria’s social fabric, affirming that Armenian women are an integral part of this fabric. She stressed the importance of including Armenian women in shaping Syria’s future, based on the principles of citizenship, equality, and the participation of all components of society in the decision-making process.

WOMAN
 4 August, 2026    02:35
AL-HASAKAH
JIHAN MOHAMMED

Hanaa Al-Hamada, a member of the Armenian Women’s Union, affirmed that Armenian women constitute an essential part of Syria’s diverse social fabric. She noted that, for more than a century, Armenian women have succeeded in preserving their cultural and linguistic identity while simultaneously integrating into and contributing to Syria’s social, economic, and political life.

Speaking to our agency (ANHA), Al-Hamada explained that Armenian women have played a leading role in preserving the cohesion of their community since the arrival of Armenian refugees in Syria. They assumed responsibility for safeguarding the Armenian language and passing it on to successive generations, while also preserving the community’s artistic and artisanal heritage through families and educational institutions.

She added that Armenian women also contributed to organizing social life within the camps established during the early settlement of Armenians in Syria. Over time, these camps evolved into residential, educational, and healthcare communities in several cities, including Kasab, Aleppo, Qamishli, and Damascus.

Al-Hamada explained that the role of Armenian women has extended far beyond a single field. They have distinguished themselves as teachers, doctors, and nurses, contributing to the development of Syria’s educational and healthcare institutions and helping improve the quality of education and medical services. They have also played a prominent role in charitable organizations, including the Armenian Relief Society (HOM), while actively participating in community councils and leading initiatives to support orphans, assist vulnerable families, and empower young women.

She pointed out that Armenian women, like all Syrian women, have faced significant challenges throughout the years of war and conflict, including displacement, the loss of security, difficult economic conditions, and the emigration of many Armenian families abroad.

Al-Hamada stressed that Armenian women aspire to achieve full equality in civil and political rights and to remove legal barriers that limit their effective participation in public life. She emphasized that Armenian women are actively contributing today by presenting their vision for the future shape of the Syrian state.

She noted that the establishment of the Armenian Women’s Union aims to unify the efforts of Armenian women and strengthen their social and political role. She emphasized the importance of guaranteeing women’s rights and achieving social justice in Syria’s new constitution, while reinforcing the principles of citizenship and equality among all components of society without ethnic or religious discrimination.

The member of the Armenian Women’s Union also underscored the importance of promoting a culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence and preserving Syria’s pluralistic character. She affirmed that Armenian women aspire to contribute to building a stable new Syria and that women’s participation in decision-making positions is a fundamental step toward creating a participatory future founded on national partnership.

She concluded by saying that Armenian women, like all Syrian women, possess the capability and expertise to participate in political life, contribute to decision-making, and help build the Syria of the future.

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Newspaper: The West urges Armenia not to be afraid of Putin’s threats – what i

Antranik Varosian
News.am, Armenia
Aug 4, 2026

Hraparak daily of Armenia writes as follows, in particular: After the last [Armenian PM Nikol] Pashinyan-[Russian President Vladimir] Putin phone conversation, according to rumors circulating in the backstage of the [Armenian] authorities, Pashinyan’s Western patrons have urged him not to panic, not to be afraid of Putin’s threats or instructions to face a choice.

Let us recall that the Kremlin’s statement on the well-known phone conversation was significantly different from the one disseminated by Pashinyan’s cabinet: the Russians once again were urging [Pashinyan] to choose between the EU and the EAEU; moreover, to hold a possible quick referendum on this matter. European partners have advised Pashinyan to delay a little bit more, since the developments on the Russian-Ukrainian front have allegedly weakened the foundations of the RF [i.e. the Russian Federation], and soon Moscow itself will take a step back.

However, according to our [Armenian] authorities’ sources, they have learned from Russia through diplomatic channels that in the near future the RF will apply a tougher mechanism towards Armenia, so as not to leave them any room for maneuver.

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“Azerbaijan is awaiting the adoption of a new constitution in Armenia”

Jalatian Sonya
MediaMax, Armenia
Aug 4, 2026

“Azerbaijan is awaiting the adoption of a new constitution in Armenia”

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Hikmet Hajiyev, an adviser to the President of Azerbaijan, said that Baku is awaiting the adoption of Armenia’s new constitution.

According to the Anatolia news agency, Hajiyev noted during a meeting with a delegation of Turkish journalists that “continuous and constructive contacts are being maintained with Turkey on this issue, and peace processes are moving forward in parallel.”

According to him, Armenia’s constitution contains territorial claims “against both Azerbaijan and Turkey,” and Baku expects this situation to change.

Hikmet Hajiyev noted that if the new constitution is adopted and Armenia renounces its claims against Azerbaijan and Turkey, they are ready to sign a peace agreement.

Emphasizing that during the 2020 war, the Turkish media and the Turkish people stood by Azerbaijan’s side, he stated that “this support has always been felt and inspires a sense of pride.”

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Armenia’s culture-filled capital is now much easier to reach

Antonian Lara
Independent, UK
Aug 4, 2026

A new direct flight route to Yerevan allowed Laura Millar to discover a world of fabulous food, incredible architecture and complicated history

It’s 11pm, the temperature’s a still-balmy 23C. Towards the end of my 25-minute taxi ride from Yerevan’s international airport into the city, we come to a vast, largely pedestrianised square where a series of illuminated fountains gush to the soundtrack of classical music (and, at one point, the theme tune to Star Wars). Throngs of people, young and old, are milling around, enjoying the spectacle alongside persistent balloon and flower sellers. Some kind of special event or celebration? Turns out it’s just your average Monday – the Dancing Fountains show, as it’s known, takes place every afternoon and evening during summer, here at Republic Square.

By daylight it transpires that the square is actually oval-shaped, ringed by imposing, curved buildings and an important part of Armenian architect and urban planner Alexander Tamanian’s vision for the city. He designed it all practically from scratch in the 1920s, just after the country fell under Soviet rule. A grand affair, the square is home to various government ministries, the Central Post Office, the National Gallery and the History Museum, all constructed from the rose-coloured tuff (a volcanic stone) which has caused Yerevan to be dubbed, poetically, the Pink City.

Landlocked within the South Caucasus region, and bordered by Georgia, Turkey, and trickier neighbours Iran and Azerbaijan, Armenia hasn’t generally been at the top of most people’s wishlists. So why visit? I’ve come from London via the first direct route with Wizz Air, which launched on 12 June. While it might seem an unlikely destination for the average budget traveller, Wizz Air’s MD, Yvonne Moynihan, explained: “We want to help our customers explore beyond the obvious.” Yerevan, rich in history, culture and character, definitely fits the bill.

It’s one of the world’s most ancient cities, in existence since 782BC – predating Rome – but has had to weather squabbles over its control by the Byzantines, Ottomans, Persians and the Russian Empire. Not much of the old city remains; instead I find a modern and sophisticated metropolis of just 1.1 million people, with battered, Russian-made Ladas dominating the traffic just as much as slick Teslas do.

As I explore its wide, leafy avenues with my delightful local guide Marie, who uncannily resembles the actress Rachel Zegler, there is indeed something different at almost every turn. Culture is revered here, and plaques, busts and statues celebrating some of the country’s most famous poets, artists, musicians and composers adorn the streets. A recent addition is a sculpture of French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour. Born Shahnur Vaghinak Aznavourian, he is honoured thanks to his fundraising efforts after a devastating earthquake in the country in 1988.

On our way to the stately grey, circular, Tamanian-designed National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Marie reveals a link to another Armenian descendant. We walk past the small, pretty Swan Lake, and she tells me that in 2015, a particular musical artist was here with his then-wife, and gave an impromptu performance before running into the lake fully-clothed, causing hundreds of fans to, chaotically, copy him.

It may not surprise you to hear that the artist was Kanye West, with his then-wife Kim Kardashian. (Another A-list Armenian is Cher, born Cheryl Sarkisian in California. She visited Yerevan in 1993, and was pictured posing on the toppled and decapitated statue of Lenin which, pre-independence, once dominated Republic Square).

A short walk away is one of the most striking urban sights I’ve ever encountered: the Cascade Complex, a tiered structure of 572 steps climbing past terraces of fountains, carvings, and contemporary artworks donated by collector Gerard Cafesjian. More pieces line the staircases and escalators inside.

From the top, the view stretches across to Mount Ararat, the biblical resting place of Noah’s Ark, and a sacred site to the many Armenians who believe it ties them directly to Noah’s lineage. Tamanian deliberately designed the city so every resident could see the mountain, even though the Soviets ceded the land it stands on to Turkey in 1921. Its twin peaks, one far smaller and shaped rather like Mount Fuji, are both perpetually snow-capped.

Armenia’s history has had far darker chapters, too; never more so than when the Ottoman Empire carried out a horrific genocide between 1915 and 1916, targeting the country’s Christian population. The sad and sobering facts are ably recounted at the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial complex, which sits on a hill overlooking the Hrazdan Gorge. It makes for uncomfortable visiting, but I’d say it’s necessary to understand some of the turmoil this beautiful country has suffered and its subsequent resilience.

I’ll end on a much more positive note: the food. At every juncture, this was fresh, homemade and utterly delicious. Even Armenia’s bread is Unesco-recognised: the ubiquitous lavash, a thin, chewy sheet of blistered flatbread, is prepared by women who joyfully slap and turn the dough until it’s transparent enough to be slammed against the interior of a special undergound oven, called a tonir.

Read more: I’ve been to more than 120 cities – these are the six best in Europe for a solo summer break

Elsewhere, fire–grilled meats (khorovats) and fish are common. I had a delicious plate of red trout at Sherep, one of the city’s best restaurants, alongside dolma (minced meat and rice wrapped in vine leaves), harissa, a thick, comforting wheat porridge made with chicken or lamb, and more salads than you can shake a bottle of olive oil at: locally-grown tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, olives and more are mixed with herbs, local cheeses, and, sometimes, beef or chicken.

If you have a sweet tooth, pick up a slab of gata at a food market, a round, brioche-like cake with a sugary filling. One of my favourite meals was at Zepyur, a hip hangout with 70s-style decor just off Aboyvan Street, one of the main thoroughfares.

After devouring a delicious dinner, Marie ordered me a surprise dessert, which turned out to be in the form of the bust of Lenin. Red icing concealed chocolate mousse, and honestly, I had as much fun taking his head off as I’d imagine the Armenians did with his statue in the aftermath of their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. That year marked the start of a hopeful, positive and vibrant new chapter for Armenia, and from what I’ve seen in Yerevan, I’d say that still remains the case.

The best things to see in Armenia outside of Yerevan

These fascinating sights are all within an hour’s drive:

  • Garni Temple: The only surviving Greco-Roman colonnaded building in the former Soviet Union, this elegant, first-century structure is often compared to Athens’ Parthenon.
  • Symphony of Stones: Armenia’s answer to the Giant’s Causeway, this natural phenomenon consists of thousands of hexagonal basalt columns located within the dramatic Garni Gorge.
  • Geghard Monastery: A medieval, Unesco-listed cave monastery carved into the cliffs of the Azat Valley. If you’re lucky, you might catch a choir singing in one of its rock-cut chapels.
  • Zvartnots Cathedral: Dating from the seventh century, but destroyed by an earthquake in the 10th, the impressive ruins of this circular cathedral are built on the location where Gregory the Illuminator, the founder of Christianity in Armenia, met with the then-King Tiridates to persuade him to adopt the religion.
  • Etchmiadzin: The home of the oldest cathedral in Armenia, and possibly the world, built in 301, shortly after Christianity was adopted. Today it’s also the administrative headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

How to do it

Flights departing on Mondays and Fridays from London Luton to Yerevan start from £46 one way with Wizz Air.

Where to stay

Spacious double rooms at the Ramada Hotel start from £129 per night.

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Azerbaijan says pressure halted Israel’s Armenian genocide recognition push

Emil Lazarian
YNet, Israel
Aug 4, 2026

Baku says it warned Jerusalem the move would damage ties with Turkey, while Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s office insists Israel’s government recognition remains unchanged

Itamar Eichner|21:37
A senior Azerbaijani official claimed that Israel halted efforts to advance recognition of the Armenian genocide following diplomatic pressure from Baku, which warned Jerusalem that the move would harm its close relationship with Turkey.
Hikmet Hajiyev, foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, said in an interview with Turkish broadcaster Haber Global that the issue had caused “deep concern” in Baku because Turkey’s interests represent a “red line” for Azerbaijan.
According to Hajiyev, Aliyev ordered an intensive diplomatic campaign after the issue of Israeli recognition of the 1915 Armenian massacres came up for discussion.
He claimed Israel “took Azerbaijan’s messages seriously” and that “further progress on the issue was prevented.”
Ad 
The Azerbaijani official also emphasized the close alliance between Baku and Ankara.
“Wherever Turkey is not present, Azerbaijan is present, and wherever Azerbaijan is not present, Turkey is present,” he said, adding that the two countries would continue responding firmly to actions they view as harmful to their interests.
The Armenian genocide issue has been a sensitive diplomatic matter for decades. Armenia and many historians describe the mass killings and deportations of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915 as genocide, while Turkey rejects that characterization.
According to the report, Israel’s initiative to recognize the events as genocide was removed from the Knesset agenda after Azerbaijan’s pressure campaign. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had presented the issue in parliament, but it was not brought to a vote.
Israel has not officially responded to Hajiyev’s claims.
Sa’ar’s office said in a statement that “the Armenian people’s genocide was recognized unanimously in a decision by the Israeli government. This decision stands and will not change.”
The dispute comes amid growing tensions between Israel and Azerbaijan, despite years of close security and diplomatic cooperation.
Last month, Azerbaijani officials reportedly expressed disappointment over the Israeli move, arguing that Jerusalem had failed to reciprocate Azerbaijan’s support since the outbreak of the war.
Azerbaijani officials also criticized the timing of communications between the two governments, claiming that Sa’ar spoke with his Azerbaijani counterpart only after the decision had already been announced, rather than before it was made.
The episode highlights the delicate balance between Israel’s relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey, two countries with competing historical and political interests surrounding the Armenian genocide issue.


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Hundreds of Armenian Catholics Unite in Lebanon as “One Heart in Christ”

Ekmekjian Janet
Catholic Times
Aug 4, 2026

Hundreds of Armenian Catholics Unite in Lebanon as “One Heart in Christ”

Aug. 4, 2026 : The 2026 World Armenian Catholic Youth Days (WAYD) officially took place in Lebanon from July 29 to August 3, bringing together hundreds of young believers under the theme “One Heart in Christ.”

Organized by the Armenian Catholic Youth Union, the week-long spiritual event served to deepen the faith of young delegates and strengthen cultural and spiritual bonds within the global Armenian diaspora.

Watch the video report at https://www.catholictime.com/news1/world-diocese-parish-news/17946-hundreds-of-armenian-catholics-unite-in-lebanon-as-one-heart-in-christ

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