Turkey continues to keep the Kurds in the Middle East under wretched conditions through a strategy of oppression, fragmentation, and confinement.
This strategy includes the “terror-free Turkey” process, which aims to manage rather than resolve the Kurdish conflict. This process has evolved into a geopolitical maneuver that aims to undermine Kurdish agency, preventing them from emerging as dynamic actors in the Middle East, and also threatening Israel’s security by specifically targeting its efforts to achieve peace and democratization in the region.
Since the atrocities of October 7, Turkey has intensified its efforts to prevent Kurds from obtaining a cultural and political status and challenge Israel’s attempts to confront Iranian proxies and jihadist groups, thus isolating the Kurds further and creating a deadlock in Israel’s operations against the ecosystem of the Iranian regime.
One factor contributing to the effectiveness of Turkey’s strategy is the failure of both Kurdish forces and Israel to form strategic alliances based on common objectives for a peaceful and prosperous Middle East.
In the aftermath of October 7, Turkey’s strategy has become multifaceted, seeking not only to neutralize Kurdish political movements but also to systematically marginalize the Kurdish population and obstruct their political and cultural aspirations.
The Turkish government has exploited the vulnerable conditions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to integrate the Kurdish population into the Turkish state, denying them political status and undermining Kurdish self-governance.
Analysts contend that Turkey’s strategy aims to counter Kurdish collaboration with Israel for cultural recognition while undermining Israel’s security efforts. Turkey also follows the Mullah path for imperialistic ambitions rooted in Islamic doctrine.
Within this context, the Turkish government seeks to revive Ottoman imperialism, with Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque as a primary target. To this end, Turkey deploys both overt and covert mechanisms to stifle Kurdish progress and isolate Israel.
This strategy has particularly affected the Kurds in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. In Syria, Turkey orchestrated the collapse of Rojava, a Kurdish-led autonomous project that had once symbolized peace, gender equality, and multi-ethnic coexistence.
The fall of Rojava has left Kurds, women, and other groups fighting for their survival.
In Iraq, Turkey has exacerbated divisions within the Kurdish parties, particularly between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), further complicating efforts to maintain the Kurdistan Region’s autonomy.
The Turkish fragmentation policy caused the loss of control of the Kurdish city of Kirkuk to the pro-Turkish Turkmen group in Iraq.
Moreover, Turkey’s influence has extended to Iran, where it has cooperated covertly with the regime in Tehran. Reports indicate that Turkey has prevented the Kurdish forces in Iran, leveraging its influence over the US, Arab states, and Pakistan, while also sharing intelligence with Tehran.
Consequently, Kurdish forces have been sidelined by Washington, and Kurdish refugee camps in Iraq remain vulnerable to Iranian drone and missile attacks.
The situation in Turkey is probably the most upsetting of all.
Turkey denies Kurds meaningful recognition
Despite decades of Kurdish struggle for political rights, Turkey has fostered a climate of apathy and disillusionment among its Kurdish population. The Turkish state has failed to grant meaningful recognition of the Kurdish identity while keeping thousands of Kurdish activists, journalists, and politicians in prison.
The denial of Kurdish identity remains a foundational pillar of the Turkish state, making it unlikely that Turkey will ever fully embrace the Kurds or grant them any form of recognition.
Turkey has also become a significant challenger to Israel.
Since October 7, Turkey has been one of Hamas’ most vocal supporters, hosting its leaders and acting as its diplomatic ally. Turkey has endorsed Hamas’ anti-Israel rhetoric while discouraging the group from relinquishing its weapons, which directly threaten Israel’s security.
Moreover, Turkey has supported global antisemitic actions, including the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to demonize the Jewish state. This rhetoric has fueled antisemitic discourse, contributing to violent attacks on Jewish communities globally.
Additionally, Turkey has promoted jihadist groups in Syria, some of whom chant “O Khaybar Khaybar Yahud,” referencing the 7th-century Khaybar massacre of Jews. These groups express a goal of liberating al-Aqsa.
Turkey has also deployed surveillance equipment in Syria, which some view as an attempt to monitor and disrupt Israeli defense operations targeting both jihadist groups and Iran.
Furthermore, Turkey’s cooperation with Iran has undermined Israeli security interests, with reports suggesting that weapons have been transported through Turkish territory to Hezbollah in Lebanon, directly threatening Israel. The Kurdish activists on the ground confirmed these reports.
In light of Turkey’s aggressive policies, Kurdish forces and Israeli decision-makers might consider developing a constructive strategy to align their shared objectives, including confronting common threats posed by Turkey.
For the first time, senior Kurdish leaders from Iran have expressed a desire for a zealous partnership with Israel against the Iranian regime and to work toward a democratic Middle East.
A senior member of the PDK-I publicly stated to an Israeli correspondent that Kurds and Jews share a history of suffering from genocide and expressed their wish for a strong partnership with Israel.
Similarly, the leader and senior members of the PAK, the PJAK, and the Komala Toilar Organization, in a webinar organized by the Moshe Dayan Center, affirmed that they desired to cooperate with Israel to challenge Tehran’s hegemony.
These leaders emphasized the shared historical tragedies of the Kurdish and Jewish populations and their goal of fostering a democratic Iran and Middle East in line with the Abraham Accords.
Although Iran’s Kurdish leaders have signaled their eagerness to cooperate, Israeli policymakers have remained reticent.
Yet, Jerusalem must recognize the Kurdish willingness for a zealous partnership, their experience of struggle against the Iranian regime, their dynamic role in a post-regime Iran, and especially their geographic positions from Iran via Iraq to Syria, which are at the intersection of hostile regimes and territories targeting Israel.
The Kurds could be perceived as a unique partner and asset in Israel’s efforts to change the face of the Middle East. A constructive Israeli policy toward the Kurds could help mitigate Turkey’s malign influence while ensuring that the Kurds do not become further isolated or pushed into the hands of any nefarious actors.
It remains to be seen whether Jerusalem will translate its positive rhetoric toward the Kurds into actionable cooperation and continue to regard the Kurds as “natural allies,” as Israel’s foreign minister has stated, or whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold the extended hand of friendship to the Kurds, as he has previously indicated.
The writer is a researcher of the Kurdish Forum at the Moshe Dayan Center.