Kurdistan Under Attack

Israel’s best friends in the Middle East face barbarians at the doorsteps. Guy Maayan of Mida interviewed some Kurdish fighters to learn about the Islamic State’s brutal way of war and how the Kurds view Israel:

“They’re monsters, you know”, said Ari Shixani (27), a Kurdish government official living in Irbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. Ari agreed to speak to ‘Mida’ using his full name and picture in order to show the world just how dangerous the situation is for the Kurds. Along with his friend Musa (alias, full name on file), he recounts the atrocities IS has committed against the Kurds in the Sinjar region: “They killed 300 whole Kurdish families and kidnapped 500 girls.” When I asked Ari what they intend to do with those 500 girls, he said: “they sell them as slaves.”

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When I ask Musa if he’s not afraid to be interviewed by a member of “Sheytane Kuchak” – the little Satan in Farsi – he just laughs, stating: “I’m a member of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan,” an opposition party which has been in conflict with the Shiite regime for decades. More than religious faith, Musa is interested in commitment to freedom and democracy – and he sees Israel as adhering to both. The two mention that they’ve been following events in Israel over the past few weeks, and that most of the Kurds – they use a figure of 60% – support Israel. If true, this estimate attests to widespread Kurdish support for Israel.

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“We’re sick of promises,” they argue. If Israel declares its friendship with the Kurdish people, this is the time to express that friendship in deeds, not words. The Kurds need Israel and its help in these dark hours, and they hope that just as it did in the 1960s, Israel will do the same today. As to what exactly they need, the two have the same answer: “we need weapons,” Ari says in a pleading tone and adds – “not money, not food, only weapons.” Musa, sitting alongside, nods in agreement. “Tell it to the world, no one cares about us, I beg you to do something to make us heard.” This time it was my turn to nod, and not just out of politeness.

The Kurds are now at the decisive moment in their fight with IS. Their main enemy is one of the richest armies in the world, a winning army on the move, an army being reinforced with new recruits on a daily basis. “This is a multi-national army,” they explain. “There are Arabs, Afghans and even Europeans,” – and now Israel’s best friends in the region are in their sights.

Since the interview was conducted (August 7), many articles were published in the West on the fate of the Yezidis, warning of their impending genocide. In addition, American planes have begun bombing IS positions in the conflict areas with the Kurds. With the help of the bombings, the Peshmerga and the Kurdish-Turkish militia succeeded in repelling IS’ offensive, and for the first time in this brief conflict – even reconquering territory seized by IS.

With their allies in jeopardy, Israel is faced with a strategic choice. Guy Maayan ends his essay by posing this very predicament: The Obama administration is going to be hesitant to give the Kurds the full range of support they need; must Israel come to the Kurds’ defense? Can she?

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Kurdistan Under Attack

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