Not so strange bedfellows
I've been toying with a lengthy -- or perhaps a series of lengthy -- posts on the Kurds (their history, origins, culture, etc.), but haven't gotten around to it. But I found this story, which seems consistent with much else that I've read of late, worth noting, particularly this section:
Furthermore, regarding the Israeli-Arab conflict, Kurds must remain neutral in this issue and not intervene in any way. If Israeli donors are interested in investing in Kurdistan, they should be allowed and welcomed to do so just like any other nation. Notwithstanding this, Kurds have always supported an independent Palestinian state....
...the potential is there for Israel and the Kurds to have a much closer relationship especially when considering the often hostile attitude of the neighbouring countries in the region both to Israel and to the Kurds. It would be good common sense for the two nations to support each other and to forge an alliance together.
The whole thing is of interest.
Kurds have suffered at the hands of Arab nationalists in Iraq. On the other hand, Israel is allied with Turkey. This might explain their ambivalence over the Israel-Palestine conflict.
CB beat me to the punch, regarding the Turkey/Israel alliance.
But maybe the Kurds are trying to be "more Turkish than the Turks" when it comes to Israeli relations, providing a non-Arab Muslim friend for Israel in exchange for leverage against surrounding Arab states.
C.B. and Matt --
I agree with both of you, and as I said, it was rather in line with much that I've been reading about the Kurds lately. I'm curious about what this portends for Iraqi federalism -- generally, central goverments are responsible for foreign relations, including trade. I recognize that I'm getting ahead of myself, but if an Iraqi federal goverment followed the lead of the Arab world, and boycotted Israel, would the Kurds sit still for it? Especially if they had the potential for lucrative deals with Israel?
I found some of the rhetoric a little overheated in this commentary, but it also raises some interesting points: