Armenia Unilaterally Recognizes Palestinian State

Latest Developments

Armenia became the latest United Nations (UN) member state to unilaterally recognize Palestinian statehood on June 21. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it “has joined the resolutions of the UN General Assembly calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.” The decision makes Armenia the fifth country to recognize an independent State of Palestine in 2024 and the 145th to do so overall. European Union members Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain — as well as Norway — recognized a Palestinian state earlier in 2024. Despite over a century of bitterness between Armenia and Turkey over the Ottoman Empire’s genocide of the mainly Christian Armenians in 1915-16, Armenia’s decision also aligns with the Turkish position on Palestinian statehood.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned Armenia’s Ambassador in Tel Aviv, Arman Akopian, for what it described as “a harsh reprimand conversation.” Israel opposes unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, a position reinforced by the Israeli Knesset in February 2024. Following Hamas’s October 7 massacre in southern Israel, Israel has considered recognition of Palestinian statehood to be a “reward” for terrorism.

Both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas applauded Armenia’s decision and called on other states to follow suit.

Expert Analysis

“Armenia’s action underscores the conflicting interests in the region. Armenia and Israel share the trauma of suffering genocide and both face threats from hostile Muslim nations, making them natural allies. But Israel’s close ties with Azerbaijan, as a counterweight to Iran, place Jerusalem and Yerevan on opposing sides of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.” — David May, FDD Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

“Armenia’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state is not a calculated decision founded on sound policy but payback for Israel’s support of Azerbaijan. The Azeris, supported by Turkey and Israel, inflicted a crushing military defeat on Armenia over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020. Israel has long calculated that Azerbaijan is a necessary regional counterbalance against Iran, complicating its ties with Armenia.” — Sinan Ciddi, FDD Non-Resident Senior Fellow

Other Thorns in the Israel-Armenia Relationship: Azerbaijan and Iran

Israel and Armenia maintain full diplomatic relations, established in 1992. Yet Israel’s cooperation with Azerbaijan and Armenia’s cooperation with Iran complicate the relationship. Israel sold weapons — ballistic missiles, air defense systems, electronic warfare systems, and kamikaze drones — to Azerbaijan throughout the renewed Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia in late 2023. Further, some experts estimate that Israel supplied Azerbaijan with up to 70 percent of the weapons used to conquer Armenian territories during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War of 2020. Meanwhile, Israel is concerned about Armenia’s growing ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Armenia recently signed multiple deals with Iran, ranging from arms trade to transportation, and has also reportedly transferred armed Iranian drones to Russia for use in its ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

“Why Is there no Palestinian State?” by Hussain Abdul-Hussain

“Slovenia Latest EU Member State to Push Recognition of Palestinian State,” FDD Flash Brief

“Spain, Ireland Lead Push in EU to Unilaterally Recognize Palestinian State,” FDD Flash Brief

“Palestinian Statehood Bid Risks Triggering U.S. Defunding of UN,” FDD Flash Brief