Israel’s love of Kurds weaponized by their foes
Israel's support of Kurdish autonomy in Syria is not always welcomed — at least publicly — by Syria's Kurds.
On Oct. 10, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Israel strongly condemns the Turkish invasion of the Kurdish areas in Syria and warns against the ethnic cleansing of the Kurds by Turkey and its proxies.” He continued, “Israel is prepared to extend humanitarian assistance to the gallant Kurdish people.”
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely informed the Knesset Nov. 6 that Netanyahu’s offer had materialized. “Israel has received many requests for assistance, mainly in the diplomatic and humanitarian realm," she said. "We identify with the deep distress of the Kurds, and we are assisting them through a range of channels.” An Israeli Foreign Ministry official, speaking not for attribution, insisted that the aid was “purely humanitarian” when pressed by Al-Monitor for clarification. But he gave no further details.
Syria’s Kurds, still reeling from Turkey’s bloody Operation Peace Spring, should have felt buoyed by the Jewish state’s declaration of solidarity. But they didn’t. If anything, many felt it made matters worse.
“I don’t understand what they are trying to do. They are making our enemies even more crazy,” said an official with the US-backed and Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are being targeted by Turkey.
