Israeli FM Sa'ar speaks with Syrian Kurdish official Ilham Ahmed: media

JERUSALEM,— Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reportedly held an extensive phone conversation with Ilham Ahmed, a senior official from the Syrian Kurdish administration, according to reports from Israel Hayom.

Ahmed, co-head of the Foreign Relations Department in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), used the call to highlight alarming developments, including arbitrary arrests and executions of Kurdish citizens under the current Syrian Islamists leadership.

Sa’ar reportedly assured her that he would continue to advocate for Kurdish concerns in his diplomatic discussions with global counterparts.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)’s affiliated media outlet, Ronahi TV, also confirmed the call on Saturday.

In November 2024, Sa’ar has emphasized forging alliances with minority groups in the region, particularly the Kurds and Druze. He has consistently described the Kurds as a “great nation without political independence” and underscored their value as a natural ally for Israel. He has also stressed the prolonged oppression the Kurdish people have endured from regional powers such as Iran and Turkey, arguing that the international community has a responsibility to support them.

The call comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Shortly after Sa’ar voiced his support for Kurdish rights, Turkey renewed its military offensive against Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria. Using F-16 jets, artillery, and militias, the Turkish military has targeted the Kurdish-led administration, which has governed the region peacefully for nearly a decade. Without advanced weaponry, the Kurds have struggled to defend themselves against these attacks.

In a December 2024 interview with The Jerusalem Post, Sa’ar reiterated Israel’s support for the Kurds and called for greater international backing. “I’ve stressed in conversations with foreign ministers worldwide, including [U.S. Secretary of State] Antony Blinken, that the international community must support the Kurds,” he said. While Israel has not intervened militarily to defend the Kurds, Sa’ar highlighted the importance of diplomatic support. “The Kurds are a pro-Western and friendly group, and we must stand by them,” he stated. Sa’ar also lamented the disparity in attention given to Kurdish issues compared to other regional conflicts, noting, “They’re not Palestinians, but give them even one percent of the attention you give the Palestinian issue.”

Michael Rubin, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, offered a critical perspective on Sa’ar’s remarks. While Rubin acknowledged the moral and strategic importance of supporting the Kurds, he warned that rhetorical support without concrete action could have damaging consequences. “If Israel does nothing following Sa’ar’s statements, Turkey will see this as a green light to escalate its actions against the Kurds,” Rubin said. He emphasized that the Kurdish-led SDF, which have played a critical role in defeating ISIS and maintaining regional stability, are at risk of being overrun without external support.

Rubin also criticized what he described as a lack of consistency in Israel’s regional policies. “Israel has supplied Azerbaijan with advanced weaponry to use against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, yet it has not extended similar support to the SDF, which seeks to protect the Kurds from Turkish aggression,” Rubin said. He argued that merely voicing support for the Kurds without providing tangible assistance—such as military aid—would render Sa’ar’s comments hollow.

“If Israel wants to be taken seriously in the region, it must act decisively. Arming the Kurds would not only help them defend themselves but also send a clear message to Turkey that there are red lines it cannot cross,” Rubin stated. He also warned that failure to act could harm Israel’s credibility and undermine Sa’ar’s standing as a leader. “Diplomatic rhetoric without action is one of the most immoral moves in international diplomacy,” Rubin concluded. “Encouraging a people to resist without providing them the means to survive is a betrayal of both them and Israel’s strategic interests.”