TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) – Seizing on the mayhem in Iraq, Israel’s prime minister on Sunday called for the establishment of an independent Kurdistan as part of a broader alliance with moderate forces across the region, adding that Israel would have to maintain a long-term military presence in the West Bank even after any future peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid out his positions in a policy speech that marked his most detailed response to the gains made by Sunni extremists fighting in Iraq. His endorsement of Kurdish independence, as well as his tough position on the West Bank, put him at odds with prevailing international opinion.
In a speech to a Tel Aviv think tank, Netanyahu said the rise of both al-Qaida-backed Sunni extremists, as well as Iranian-backed Shiite forces, had created the opportunity for “enhanced regional cooperation.”
He said Jordan, which is facing a growing threat of spillover from conflict in neighboring Iraq and Syria, and the Kurds, who control an oil-rich autonomous region of northern Iraq, should be bolstered. He said the Kurds “are a nation of fighters and have proved political commitment and are worthy of independence.”
The Kurds have long held aspirations for independence but have said seeking nationhood is not realistic at the current time. The international community, including neighboring Turkey as well as the U.S. and other Western countries, oppose the breakup of Iraq.