Israeli Justice Minister called for independent Kurdistan

Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked on Tuesday called for the formation of an independent Kurdistan, and urged an enhanced policy of cooperation between Israel and the Kurds.

“We must openly call for the establishment of a Kurdish state that separates Iran from Turkey, one which will be friendly towards Israel,” Shaked said at the annual INSS security conference in Tel Aviv.

“The Kurdish people are a partner for the Israeli people,” she said noting the shared interests of Israel and the Kurds in defeating the rise of jihadist Islamist groups in the region.

“The Kurds are an ancient, democratic, peace-loving people that have never attacked any country,” she said, adding that economic cooperation should be on the forefront of any official ties.

“It is time to help them,” Shaked added.