The Israeli government voted Sunday to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, marking a historic shift after decades in which Jerusalem avoided an official designation over concerns about damaging ties with Turkey.

The resolution, advanced by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, was approved by the cabinet and is now expected to be brought before the Knesset plenum for approval.

“Recognizing the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people in the final years of the Ottoman Empire is both a moral and historical duty,” Sa’ar said when announcing the proposal last week. “We must also firmly condemn any denial, minimization, or distortion of the historical truth.”