A KRG response to Turkish aggression upon Syrian Kurdistan

With respect and admiration for the successes of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and my genuine support for your dream of independence, I respectfully submit an important matter for your consideration.

Unity is a major asset of any nation seeking independence and recognition. 

The state of Israel was established only after a process of dialogue between groups with opposing philosophies. It began with the convening of the First Zionist Congress, held in Basel, Switzerland in 1897. It formed a platform, founded the Zionist Organization to continue the process of national dialogue, and adopted a national anthem. 

As the development of the Zionist movement generated enthusiasm throughout the Jewish world, sharp criticism appeared, debating whether Zionism could resolve the Jewish problem or only harm the status of Jews in the diaspora. 

A viable state would not necessarily arise instantaneously upon its political establishment if the nation could not reach a consensus or at least a political modus vivendi with regards to the questions of religion and state, cultural coexistence, and the socio-political system that would underlie the state's government.

The resolution of these differences took time - but even more so - openness and tolerance created a positive atmosphere for dialogue, which eventually unified the Jewish nation.

While I am aware that there are distinct political and philosophical differences between the various Kurdish regions and their parties, in my opinion, the need for unity greatly outweighs all these differences.

I certainly appreciate the delicacy of the KRG's political situation and the concern to act in a way that doesn't negatively affect relations with the major countries in the region. However, it should be clear that those countries also have interests influenced by international pressure. Diplomatic words or silence will not influence their decisions to support or oppose Kurdish independence.

World opinion and pressure will be achieved when the Kurdish nation has a vocal and unified stance demanding its rights to independence and freedom.

For Israel, it was the Holocaust that "tipped the balance" of the global opinion. For the Kurds, it apparently must also come from unity in stopping abuse from terrorist organizations and aggressive countries, both of which threaten the Kurds with extinction, possibly bodily and certainly as a cultural and national entity.

The situation in Syrian Kurdistan is a natural follow-up to the increasing oppression and denial of basic democratic rights of the Kurdish population in Turkey. It was expected.

Our Kurdish brothers in Syria are facing the arsenals of a vicious war machine sent by a country that has recently, by its overt actions, rejected democracy and is edging steadily towards dictatorial rule, with fundamentalist underpinnings.

A unified Kurdish stance must be issued with self-confidence and a belief in the justness of its cause. If not, God-forbid, a catastrophe may once again, befall the entire Kurdish people.

I believe the world will respond to such a united call.

As we Jews read yearly in the Scroll of Esther, a decree was issued by the Persian Empire, ordering the slaughter of the entire Jewish population. A situation existed then, in which the Jewish Queen Esther had to make a tough decision. She had to choose between risking her life and appealing to the king, and hiding in the palace, hoping to escape the evil decree. Her uncle and mentor Mordechai said to her: do not imagine that you can hide in the palace of the king. If you do so, your house will still go lost, and God will send salvation through someone else.

The lesson is clear: the KRG cannot hope to survive by placating or even being silent in the face of mortal threats to other Kurds, wherever they may reside.

Such a position will signal weakness to its aggressive neighbors and will not earn it independence or even preserve its status. It will God-forbid bring the exact opposite result.

We hope that the Kurdistan Regional Government will justify our pride in its accomplishments and raise its voice in clear and unequivocal support for our Kurdish brothers and sisters in Syria and demand the immediate cessation of violent attacks upon them by Turkish tanks, air force, and terrorist militias.

Moreover, the KRG should make clear to the anti-ISIS coalition countries, that its military achievements (through the loss of so many brave martyrs), cannot be given freely with a clear conscience, while other coalition partners bomb, exile and oppress men, women, and children in Rojava.

We are confident that unity will only help the cause of Kurdish independence, in the Kurdistan region and other areas as well. Kurdish unity will demonstrate a strength of will and action, which will actively deter forces of opposition and will earn respect and the support of world opinion.

Unity, God willing, is the key to the Kurds' future.

Benzion Cassouto is a geopolitical analyst specializing in the Middle East. He is the founder and GM of the Israel Kurdistan NGO whose objective is to expand relations between Israel and the Kurdistan Region.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Kurdistan24.

Editing by Delovan Barwari