ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) stated on Sunday that anyone urging Israel to support the Kurds in Syria is an "enemy" of the Kurds. The remarks come only days after Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi expressed openness to accept Israeli support. “If someone calls on Israel to help protect the Kurds, that person is an enemy of the Kurds,” said Omer Celik, AKP spokesperson, stressing, “We state it clearly… anyone calling for Israel’s intervention or seeking international intervention is pursuing a major provocation and acting as a subcontractor for other projects.” Celik’s comments followed Abdi’s statement last week that he would not reject Israeli support if offered. Abdi’s remarks were in response to a comment by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu, who on Monday expressed openness to support minorities in Syria, namely the Druze and the Kurds. Celik slammed “anyone advocating for Israel's support” as "an enemy of their own people.” The Israeli foreign minister and a senior Kurdish official in the SDF-led northeast Syria (Rojava) in January spoke on the phone and Kurds reportedly were given “positive guarantees” by Israel regarding their future.
