Israel backs Kurds, denies meddling
ISRAEL is set to get a new friend in its hostile neighbourhood – but the prospect of Kurdish independence is spawning conspiracy theories that it's only happening because of Mossad meddling.
ISRAEL is set to get a new friend in its hostile neighbourhood – but the prospect of Kurdish independence is spawning conspiracy theories that it’s only happening because of Mossad meddling.
More than 92 per cent of voters in Iraqi Kurdistan backed independence in last week’s referendum. But since results were released, claims have abounded that Israel was pulling strings to bring about the referendum result – and have even been heard from an international leader.
The result “shows one thing, that this administration [the Kurdish leadership in northern Iraq] has a history with Mossad, they are hand-in-hand together,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying. Hezbollah has claimed that the vote was part of a US–Israeli plot to divide Arab powers.
Conspiracy theorists have stressed that, so far, Israel is the only country to welcome the result, even going against its staunch ally America to do so, and pointed out that Israeli flags have been waved by Kurdish activists.
Benjamin Netanyahu derided the claims this week, telling his cabinet that “Israel had no part in the Kurdish referendum, apart from the deep, natural sympathy that the people of Israel have had for many years for the Kurdish people and their aspirations.”
He took a swipe at Turkey for its close relationship with Hamas, and said: “I understand why those who support Hamas wish to see the Mossad everywhere.”
The result of the referendum is non-binding, but is expected nevertheless to lead to the Kurds trying to act upon it.
Figures across Israel’s political spectrum have echoed Netanyahu’s enthusiasm for Kurdish independence.
Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, wished the Kurds luck in getting their “moral right” before the vote declaring that “the Jewish people know what it is to struggle for a homeland”. Since the vote Lapid has lashed out at Erdogan for threatening to put the dampers on Turkey–Israel ties if Jerusalem continues to back the Kurds.
“We do not take orders from him,” Lapid said.
Further coverage in this week’s AJN.
NATHAN JEFFAY
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