Rivlin once campaigned for Israel to recognize the Armenian Genocide . In 2012 , he said , " It is our moral duty to remember and remind of the tragedy that befell the Armenian people , who lost more than a million of its sons during the First World War , and we must not make this a political issue . I am aware of the sensitivity of this issue . But let us be clear : This is not an accusation of Turkey today or of the current Turkish government . " As president , he has been less vocal on this issue . Concerned about the negative reaction of Turkey if the president signed the petition , unnamed officials of the Foreign Ministry welcomed what they called Rivlin 's " statesmanship "
Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
Reuven Rivlin