Netanyahu: We Did Not Interfere in the Kurdistan Independence Referendum

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday, October 1, that his country did not interfere in the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan. He added that Israel 'only has interest and affection for the Kurdish people.' Israeli media interpreted Netanyahu's remarks as an indirect response to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements. Erdogan, on Saturday, continued his strong criticism of the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, linking Israel to the event and claiming that the Mossad was behind the scenes of the referendum. He also stated that 'the Mossad has been in contact with the Kurds of Iraq for years' and 'now that this relationship has become clear, it will soon cost the Kurds of Iraq.' Iranian officials have also raised the issue of Israeli interference in the Kurdistan referendum in recent days. According to Erdogan, 'some forces want to eliminate Turkey's influence, and what happened in northern Iraq is not the establishment of a country but the opening of a new festering sore that some will profit from.' He had previously warned the Kurds of Iraq, saying, 'Waving the Israeli flag will not save you... When you are hungry, let’s see if Israel can help you.' Since the referendum was held on October 1, Erdogan has sharply criticized Masoud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, stating that 'only Israel and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) supported it.' The Kurdistan Regional Government published the results of the referendum last Wednesday, indicating that about 93 percent of eligible voters who went to the polls voted in favor of the referendum. The central government of Iraq and the countries of Iran, Turkey, and Syria have opposed this referendum. Turkey and Iran, with the support of the central Iraqi government, have initiated a series of political-military-economic punitive measures against the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Meanwhile, while Netanyahu rejected Erdogan's accusation regarding Israel's 'role' in the Kurdistan referendum, he remained silent about the condition that Erdogan set for improving Turkey-Israel relations. Erdogan stated last Wednesday that if Israel continues to support the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan, the Turkish government will halt the normalization of relations with Israel. Relations between the two countries had recently improved after about six years of crisis following the Israeli Navy's attack on a Turkish aid ship in the spring of 2010, which was en route to Gaza and resulted in the deaths of 10 Turkish citizens. In recent days, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu had prohibited his ministers from speaking to the media regarding this part of Erdogan's statements and making further comments about the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post on Sunday published remarks from Mustafa Hijri, the Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, and Hossein Yazdanpanah, the leader of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK). Mustafa Hijri referred to Iranian Kurdistan as 'Eastern Kurdistan' and described his party's policy as based on a 'popular uprising' against the 'ruling regime in Iran.' He linked the presence of Kurds in Sanandaj, Mahabad, and other Kurdish areas in Iran last week to express joy over the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan with his party's call. His party also stated that dozens have been arrested in the following days. Last year, Hijri had told the Jerusalem Post that 'the Iranian regime is our common enemy with Israel.' The Jerusalem Post also identified Hossein Yazdanpanah as the leader of a group whose forces have recently been involved in fighting against the Islamic State (ISIS) in northern Iraq, quoting him as calling the Islamic Republic of Iran a 'terrorist government.' Yazdanpanah stated that 'the Kurdish villages (in Iran) have been occupied by foreign forces that threaten our people.' Iranian officials typically reject such criticisms and accusations, describing Iran as a victim of terrorism.