Israeli-Kurdish Relations

Ynet, in a report that was cited by al-bawaba and the Arabic language Radio Sawa, claims that Jalal Talabani, the new Kurdish president of Iraq and leader of the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan), recently met with an "Israeli military figure" who presented him with a letter from Ariel Sharon. The report goes on to state that

"Talabani responded with a letter addressed to Sharon in which he stressed positive developments in Israeli-Iraqi relations are expected within the next three months, including the exchange of diplomatic representatives between the countries, the sources said."

Six weeks ago, Ynet also reported that

"[the Israeli government's number two Shimon] Peres also had a chance meeting with Kudar Talabani, the Iraqi president's son, at the CNN television studio in Washington. Kudar watched Peres's interview and afterward said it was 'excellent.'" The two later shook hands.

This comes on the heels of an interview with a Jordanian journal where Talabani did not rule out talks with Israel. He said that talks, open to all Arab countries, could not be refused to Israel.

He also mentioned how Shimon Peres saluted him for the formation of the new regime during the international socialist congress in Rome. He also denied any Israeli presence on Iraqi soil and having made a previous visit to Israel (as a report by Seymour Hirsch in the New Yorker alleged.)

Israel made a strategic decision as far back as the 1960's to align itself with non-Arab minorities in the Middle East and hence, the long standing friendly relationship with the Kurds. Even today, the state-owned Israeli communications company Bezek transmits broadcasts on behalf of the Kurdish Democratic Party in northern Iraq every evening.

While the heralding of Iraq-Israel relations seems premature at best given the powerful Shiite Islamist force in government, it will be interesting to see how the Turks, another non-Arab Israeli ally who are also hostile to the idea of Kurdish self-determination (and supply Israel with fresh water), view Israel's relationship with the newly-empowered Kurds. Another question worth pondering is whether Turkish pressure on Israel will force a re-alignment of regional relationships as was alleged when Israel was accused of participating in the capture of Abdullah Ocalan, a Kurdish Guerilla leader in Turkey (a charge Ephraim Levy, then head of the Mossad, vehemently denies).