Why Azerbaijan Is A True Friend of Israel?
- Hananya Naftali
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
The world is full of fake friends. Countries that smile in public, shake hands for the cameras, then vote against you at the UN. Nations that promise peace but support terror behind closed doors. Israel knows this. We've lived it.
That's why, when we see a country that actually stands up for itself, defends its people, and respects its allies, we don’t hesitate. We stand with them. That country is Azerbaijan.
Most people can't find it on a map. But this small Muslim-majority country, sitting between Russia and Iran, just did something most nations only dream of: it won back its land after 30 years of occupation, and then immediately reached out to make peace. I got the chance to visit Karabakh in 2025 and witness how restoration is undergoing, after the military operation ended.
The Story No One Told You About Karabakh
For decades, Armenian forces occupied a region called Karabakh, land that belongs to Azerbaijan. Over one million Azerbaijani citizens were kicked out of their homes. Whole villages were destroyed. Cemeteries and mosques were turned to rubble. The world watched. Said nothing. Did nothing. Sound familiar?
Ask any Israeli and we’ll tell you: the international community is great at making speeches, not saving lives. Azerbaijan waited, begged, negotiated, but eventually, enough was enough. They built up their military, strengthened their economy, made serious partnerships (including with Israel), and when the time came, they took back their land.
Why Israel Stands With Azerbaijan
Do you know who supported Azerbaijan when they needed real friends? Not the EU. Not the UN. Israel. Not just because it was the right thing to do, but because Azerbaijan is the kind of partner we believe in. They're not run by radicals. They don’t hate Jews. In fact, Azerbaijan is one of the only Muslim countries in the world where Jewish life has always been safe and respected. Their President publicly praises Israel, and they understand that Israel is not fighting Muslims but rather extremism.
It’s a strategic bond between two tough nations who’ve been through fire, and refused to burn. When Azerbaijan fought back to end the occupation of Karabakh, they didn’t do it for conquest. They did it to go home. To return a million people to the villages they were thrown out of decades ago. And when they won? They didn’t call for revenge. They offered peace.
Israel gets that.
We also know what it’s like to fight wars we don’t want, because peace talks fail. We know what it’s like to see the world side with the aggressor and accuse the victim. But we also know this: you don’t get peace by begging for it. You get peace by being strong enough to demand it.
Azerbaijan Offered To Help Make Peace in Middle East
Azerbaijan is helping create new bridges between East and West, acting as a moderate Muslim partner that supports Israel, values regional stability, and is ready to help make peace happen. After the 2020 war, and the 2023 military operation, Azerbaijan worked with the U.S. and regional players to bring Armenia to the table, including at a peace summit hosted by President Trump in Washington. President Trump helped end the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan for good.
This is showing Arab nations something powerful: you don’t have to choose between religion and reason. You don’t have to hate Jews to be Muslims, this is not true and wrong, especially since there are about 2 million Arabs living in Israel, with the majority of them being Muslim.
When I visited Azerbaijan, I felt very welcome and loved. I told everyone that asked that I am from Israel. The first thing the locals told me is that they don't forget how we stood by them, and now it's their turn to stand with Israel. That's real friendship. It touched me very deeply. You don't abandon friends. Never.
This relationship is good for Israel, too. Israel is actively trying to expand the Abraham Accords and make peace with more Muslim countries in the Middle East. Azerbaijan can potentially play an important role with opening doors for peace.
We’re surrounded by enemies who chant for our destruction. But Azerbaijan? They look at Israel and see strength, innovation, and partnership. Not only do they welcome Israeli companies, they buy Israeli defense tech, collaborate on agriculture, security, and healthcare, and they’re proud of it.
This is what the Middle East should look like. Not chaos. Not hatred. But mutual respect, shared values, and real cooperation between Muslims and Jews. Not the fake peace of photo-ops, but the honest peace that comes when two strong nations shake hands and say: we’ve got each other’s back.
Israel and Azerbaijan are two countries that believe in peace, remember their friends, and don’t wait around for permission to defend what's theirs. The world may not like it. But the world doesn’t decide our future. We do. Together.