Israel's promises and Arab-Turkish violence, no independence

Between Israel’s promises and Arab-Turkish violence, there is no road to independence

Serwan Zangana | Exclusive to iKurd.net

The imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, is becoming more and more surprising and, often, disappointing, first, with his U-turn in his significant role as one of the most influential leaders in softening and giving up the decades of armed and ideological struggle and disarming one of the most powerful Kurdish groups in the region. As he called it, a transition to democratic politics in Turkey.

Second, he is speaking against Israel with the same tone that the Turks are speaking in. Öcalan apparently has melted down his revolution’s position and become an extinguished fire, completely even issuing statements that promote Erdoğan’s regime and his allies. “Strategic advantage is shifting to Turkey; only a child would fail to understand this,” Öcalan said.

The Turkish and Arab regimes throughout history have been in a hostile position against the Kurdish political identity; however, Öcalan is taking a new direction toward the Turks, with new hope. But how much can the Turks be trusted in this process?

The Turkish Parliament has passed legislation that was submitted by Erdoğan’s ruling party, called the “Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration,” as part of the structure of the peace process and, under certain conditions, would suspend the sentences of PKK members after the PKK is completely dissolved.

It is noteworthy that Kurdish autonomy has not been mentioned at all since the dialogue was initiated for peace between Turkey and the PKK in 2024, and the beginning of the latter’s disarmament and entry into the peace process with Turkey in 2025.

However, the Kurds in the Turkish Parliament will not have an easy path to participate in a fair democratic process as the chauvinistic Turkish right wing continues to oppose Kurdish political identity. Indeed, the Turkish İYİ Party (Good Party) is strongly opposed to the new law, which means the Kurds have no chance to become active members of Parliament with an independent voice. The İYİ Party delegate and member, Ayyüce Türkeş, called Öcalan a “baby killer” in opposition to the legislation.

There are many obstacles on the Kurds’ path in Turkey, and such legislation is not a guarantee for the Kurds to establish their political identity in the Turkish Parliament. Regardless of Öcalan’s intention in the PKK’s disarmament, he is not welcome among various Turkish parties in the country. Even if Öcalan stepped out of prison as a free man, which is a hope, he would not be able to live freely in Turkey, as he could potentially face assassination attempts.

Öcalan should refrain from criticizing Israel and avoid becoming part of any conflict in the region and realize that his fragile position and his surrender to the Turks without any provision does not ensure the political rights of the Kurds in Turkey’s parliament.

The main purpose of the legislation is to guarantee the complete dissolution of the PKK. It is another tool that Turkey added to its power to finish the process of burying whatever is left of the Kurdish revolution through the PKK.

As the legislation provides for the suspension of some sentences for PKK members, these suspensions are conditional, and only certain members, depending on their sentences and offenses, will be eligible. According to Turkish Minute, Öcalan is ineligible for any sentence suspension as he has been serving an aggravated life sentence since 1999, and the legislation excludes those members who were involved in the conflict before June 1, 2005, and who are serving life or aggravated life sentences.

Clearly, the purpose of any Turkish legislation related to the dissolution of the PKK is to expedite the process and end the chapter of the Kurdish armed struggle in Turkey. Undoubtedly, this process allows Turkey more room for expansion in the region and more space to breathe and push its power further.

The Kurds and the Closed Roads to Independence

Obviously, the relationship between the PKK and the left wings of the Palestinian opposition groups, such as Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) is traced back to the 1970s and 1980s. Both the Kurdish and Palestinian left wings shared the same ideological principles and beliefs.

But the powerful chauvinistic Arab regimes and the combination of Arab and Muslim mindsets in the Arab world did not allow the advancement of Arab leftism. This also impacted the PKK struggle as it was left with no allies in the region. To fairly understand Öcalan’s statement regarding Israel, it should be understood in the context of the reality in which he lived. “Israel has been at this for 30 years. For three decades, Israel has been secretly promising us a state,” Öcalan said.

Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan — Kurdish PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan after being arrested on February 15, 1999, by the CIA and Turkish security forces in Nairobi and taken to Turkey on February 16, 1999. Photo: Turkish government.

Also, according to the PKK leaders, the capture of Öcalan in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1999, by Turkish special forces was supported by Israeli intelligence, as it provided information to the Turks about his whereabouts. Mustafa Karasu, a senior executive member of the PKK, said that Israel empowered Turkey in 1999, which resulted in Öcalan’s capture.

However, the majority of Arab nationalists and Muslims are opposing the Kurdish political identity. That means sympathizing with the Palestinian cause and sacrificing for the people of Palestine should not be an obligation of the Kurds.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal (left) meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Istanbul, Turkey, 2024. Photo: Turkish Presidency

Just as a reminder, during his 2018 visit to Turkey, the former Hamas leader, Khalid Mashaal, praised Erdoğan for capturing the town of Afrin in Syria from Kurdish forces. “Turkey’s success in Afrin serves as a solid example hopefully to be followed by other victories of the Islamic ummah in a lot of places in the world,” Mashaal said.

As the Kurdish revolution led by Öcalan was aborted, the struggle for Kurdish independence came to an end, and the Kurds’ fate fell under Turkish control. However, perhaps Israel only promises the Kurds a state, as Öcalan said: “For three decades, Israel has been secretly promising us a state.” But for centuries, the Arabs and the Turks, in the name of Umma al-Islamiya (Islamic nation), have been destroying Kurdistan and torturing and raping the Kurds.

After all, it is a closed road to independence.

Serwan Zangana, a contributing writer for iKurd.net, lives in Virginia, U.S. He serves as a correction officer.

The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of iKurd.net or its editorial team.