The Israeli government voted unanimously on Sunday to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, approving a resolution brought by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar after years in which Israel avoided the move because of diplomatic sensitivities with Turkey.

The decision is expected to be brought next to the Knesset plenum for a vote. Sa’ar said after the cabinet approval: “The Israeli government approved a short time ago the resolution I presented to it recognizing the Armenian genocide. It’s never too late to do the right thing.”

“This horrific genocide, which took place more than 100 years ago and regarding which there is no real dispute over the historical facts, included the murder of 1.5 million people and the destruction of an ancient cultural and historical heritage,” Sa’ar said.

“In my view, it is our moral obligation as Jews, and certainly as the state of the Jewish people, to adopt the decision we approved today,” he added. Hebrew reports said Sa’ar thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for backing the move.

Israel had long stopped short of formal recognition, largely because of its complicated relationship with Turkey. Ankara denies that the Ottoman-era massacres, imprisonment and forced deportations of Armenians amounted to genocide, and has led a long campaign against international recognition.

Sa’ar said the decision was not an act of revenge against Turkey or President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but added that Turkish hostility toward Israel does not give Ankara “immunity from the truth.” Dozens of countries, including the United States, Canada, Russia and Germany, already recognize the Armenian Genocide.