Monday, October 2, 2017

The Case for Kurdish Independence

by Alan M. Dershowitz • October 2, 2017 at 1:00 pm

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tried to extort Israel to withdraw its support, and threatened to end the process of normalization unless it does so. It is worth noting that Turkey strongly supports statehood for the Palestinians but not for their own Kurdish population. Hypocrisy abounds in the international community, but that should surprise no one.
Iraqi Kurds were a key partner for the U.S. coalition that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime and has staved off further sectarian tensions in that country. One thing is clear: if the United States continues to neglect its "friends" and allies in the region -- those on the front line in the fight against ISIS -- the damage to its credibility will only increase.
Nor are there any limits to the hypocrisy of those university students and faculty who demonstrate so loudly for Palestinian statehood, but ignore or oppose the Kurds. When is the last time you read about a demonstration in favor of the Kurds on a university campus? The answer is never.
No one who supports statehood for the Palestinians can morally oppose Kurdish independence. But they do, because it is double-standard hypocrisy, and not morality, that frames the debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

People cast their referendum vote on September 25, 2017 in Kirkuk, Iraqi Kurdistan. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

More than 90% of Iraq's Kurdish population have now voted for independence from Iraq. While the referendum is not binding, it reflects the will of a minority group that has a long history of persecution and statelessness.

The independence referendum is an important step toward remedying a historic injustice inflicted on the Kurdish population in the aftermath of the First World War. Yet, while millions took to the streets to celebrate, it is clear that the challenges of moving forward toward establishing an independent Kurdistan are only just beginning. Already, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, has said: "we will impose the rule of Iraq in all of the areas of the KRG, with the strength of the constitution." Meanwhile, other Iraqi lawmakers have called for the prosecution of Kurdish representatives who organized the referendum -- singling out Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani, specifically.