Turkey says it killed 13 Kurdish militants in northern Iraq
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reuters.com
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-says-it-killed-13-kurdish-militants-northern-iraq-2024-07-30/
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-says-it-killed-13-kurdish-militants-northern-iraq-2024-07-30/
Turkey is an awkward mirror to Israel. They both have an an unrecognized ethnostate with a populace that is locked in perpetual guerilla war with each other.
Both are framed differently, though. The Kurds often get framed slightly more positive, as they were helping the western forces defeat Isis. And the Turks don't have the same grip on the International media that Israel have.
It's however a painful equivalent as if we choose to not call out Israel, we can't call out Turkey either.
I'll focus only on a few big points.
Turkey also bombs the SDF, which isn't considered a terrorist group by anyone (other than Turkey and Qatar maybe).
Even the PKK, which is the worst out of the Kurdish groups, only calls for an autonomous area in Turkey, and not for the annihalation of Turkey or for the death of all Turks.
The Kurds were oppressed and persecuted for a very long time under Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran. Their neighbours all want them gone or dead (although some would be fine "just" with forced assimilation), similarily to how they view / have viewed Israel and Jews.
Kurds barely get any support, even from the USA.
Hamas has the support of many states and groups all over the region.
I'd say these are quite different situations.
Israel and Palestine are legitimate nations. Turkey is fighting PKK, a terrorist organization without any legitimate nation behind; also has a history of killing civilians, kidnapping children and burning schools. Unlike Israel, Turkey does not target areas with high likelihood of civilian casualties.
Palestine is not recognized globally. For instance Israël doesn't recognize it, which is part of the problem.
Turkey, like Israel, has labeled the PKK as terrorist organisation, however they say they are freedom fighters. This has been the case for Hamas and Hezbollah too, just like the IRA and ETA.
Not saying that terrorism is legitimized, but like the Israelites Turkey is involved in violent suppression of Kurds. It's exactly the same situation, and Turkey can play at it as there's no western moral high ground as Israel is allowed to do the same thing.
The Western Coalition was most welcoming towards the help of PKK fighting against Isis and the remnants of Saddam's baathists, however.
Comparing Turkey, a nation that aims to defend its citizens from terrorism related attacks to Israel; a nation that kills civilians and bombs hospitals just to possibly kill some targets is the worst comparison I've ever seen.
What do you feel about the comparison between Kurds and Palestinians? Both minorites that are desperate enough to resort to terrorist attacks and reprisals by a more powerful state that is supported by a global power.
Palestinians have heavily restricted rights inside Israel territory; unlike Kurds in Turkey who are considered Turkish citizens and have no restrictions in their citizenship rights
Hamas has been accepting of a peaceful solution; PKK isn't. Turkey has tried the peaceful option with no success; because it turned out PKK was using the peace negotiation time to trap more buildings with bombs and arm themselves up.
Main reason behind PKK's creation was unfair treatment towards prisoners within the areas with high Kurdish population; unlike the whole Palestine-Israel conflict where Israel's idea started from the thought of ethnic cleansing of their area.
I can't find any reason why these two would be comparable whatsoever.
Thanks for your perspective. I still think that there more to it than meets the eye. Both situations are directly attributable to the dissolution of the ottoman empire, where the region was kind of randomly subdivided, without regard towards the populace. Like the Armenians the Kurds feel the indifference of the Turks towards their ethnicity.
Also the British administration of Palestine, culminating in the Balfour declaration eventually caused the plight of the Palestinians.
I think we're not going to agree in the end, but thanks for your perspective.
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