PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan’s anti-Israel rhetoric threatens Kurdish-Jewish relations – opinion

Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has introduced new ideological frameworks that include anti-Israel rhetoric, potentially jeopardizing long-standing Kurdish-Jewish relations. Following Turkey's "terror-free Turkey" initiative in October 2024, Ocalan called for the PKK's dissolution and a "new peace and democratic society process," dividing the movement. His recent statements, filtered through Turkish control, increasingly attribute Kurdish suffering to British imperialism and Zionism, even suggesting a "post-Israel" era. These claims, which include misleading historical analogies like "Judenrat," are historically unfounded and risk influencing his followers.

"fully overcoming the system of annihilation will again be achieved through resistance, struggle, and construction of the Free Kurdish Line based on democratic society and democratic integration."

The article questions whether Turkish authorities manipulate Ocalan's statements, or if his prolonged imprisonment and a desire to accommodate the Turkish government are driving this shift. Historically, Israel has supported Kurdish self-determination, viewing Kurds as natural partners, while it was the surrounding Muslim-majority nations that denied Kurdish rights. Preserving constructive Kurdish-Israeli relations is crucial for both peoples.