Israel FM Sa'ar calls Kurds 'natural ally,' urges boosting ties

Israel FM Saar calls Kurds are natural ally, urges boosting ties — Israel’s incoming Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, March 13, 2024. Photo: Flash90

JERUSALEM,— Israel’s incoming Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has outlined a new diplomatic vision focused on building alliances with minority groups, particularly the Kurds and Druze in the Middle East.

Sa’ar, speaking on Sunday at a ceremony marking the transition from outgoing Foreign Minister Israel Katz, emphasized the importance of forging stronger ties with these communities, who, he argues, share Israel’s challenges as minority groups in the region.

“The Kurds are a great nation without political independence,” Sa’ar declared, calling them a natural ally for Israel.

He noted that the Kurdish people have long faced oppression at the hands of both Iran and Turkey, and that Israel must actively support them.

Sa’ar stressed the significance of these ties, noting that they hold both political and security value for the Jewish state.

The Kurdistan region in Iraq, which borders both Iran and Turkey, is seen as a strategically important area for Israel.

Historically, Israel’s military and intelligence agencies, such as the IDF and Mossad, have supported Kurdish rebels in their fight against the Iraqi government during the 1960s and 70s, aligning with Iran in the process.

Sa’ar also highlighted the Druze minorities in Syria and Lebanon as potential partners. “In a region where Israel will always be a minority, our natural allies will be other minority groups.” he said.

These alliances, he suggested, would complement Israel’s broader regional strategy, including strengthening ties with Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, particularly after the ongoing conflicts with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Sa’ar expressed confidence that Israel’s role in the region has grown stronger due to its firm stance against Iran and its successes in combating the Iranian axis over the past year. This, he argued, positions Israel as an increasingly influential player in the Middle East and on the global stage.

The relationship between Israel and the Kurds has a long history.

In 2015, the Kurdish parliament officially recognized the Jewish community in the region, granting them full rights.

Although the Jewish community suspended its representation at the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2017, this move did not reflect a broader deterioration in relations. In fact, Kurdish leaders have repeatedly shown respect for Israel.

Despite enduring daily attacks from Turkey, Kurds in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) have established a semi-autonomous, self-governing region where they are building a modern society centered on democratic values.

In this society, gender equality is a core principle, with both men and women required to serve in the military—following a model similar to Israel’s. Their commitment to democracy and gender equality has earned them recognition as the second nation in the Middle East, after Israel, to uphold these values, gaining respect worldwide.

Iraqi Kurdistan has a particularly warm history with Israel, dating back to the 1960s when Kurdish leader Mustafa Barzani and his fighters received training and support from Israel.

However, the establishment of Israel in 1948 and the rise of Arab nationalism led to the mass departure of Iraqi Jews, many of whom relocated to Israel. Today, around 400 families of Jewish descent remain in the Kurdish region, though most are registered as Muslims.

Despite the challenges, Sa’ar’s approach underscores Israel’s ongoing efforts to build and strengthen alliances with key regional actors, especially minority communities, as part of its broader strategy for regional stability and security.

(With files from The Times of Israel)