Israeli media reports warn that the PKK laying down arms could disrupt Israel’s regional interests, alter Syria’s power dynamics, and potentially reduce U.S. support for the YPG. Following Abdullah Öcalan’s cease-fire appeal, shifts in alliances are foreseen, complicating Turkey’s role in Syria. Former U.S. ambassador Robert Ford suggests that U.S. withdrawal could facilitate better support for Syria’s government against Daesh.
Israeli media has recently expressed concerns regarding the potential implications of the PKK terrorist organization laying down arms. Reports suggest that such a development may disrupt Israel’s interests by altering the regional balance of power. Specifically, an editorial in Haaretz warned that a cease-fire could redefine Syria’s dynamics, potentially jeopardizing Israel’s influential presence in the region due to increased Turkish influence.
Haaretz also highlighted that with a potential decline in U.S. support for the PKK’s Syrian affiliate, the YPG, the group might be compelled to follow the directives of the Syrian government. This shift could lead Turkey to retreat from its established safe zones in northern Syria, placing Israel in a precarious international situation as an occupying entity in southern Syria.
In line with these concerns, Channel 14 characterized the recent changes as indicative of a new era, while Yedioth Ahronoth pointed to a YPG-Damascus agreement potentially impacting Turkey’s regional strategy. Conversely, The Jerusalem Post raised the hypothesis that any change in U.S. policy towards Syria could pressure the PKK to align with the Syrian administration.
These analyses emerged shortly after the PKK announced a cease-fire with Turkey, following a significant appeal from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, urging the group to disband after more than forty years of conflict. This call was relayed by the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), which had met with Öcalan to discuss the future of the PKK.
Moreover, former U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, articulated in Foreign Affairs magazine that a shift in U.S. policy could benefit Syria by endorsing cooperation with the Damascus government to combat Daesh, rather than aligning with the YPG. He asserted the need for the Trump administration to engage in dialogue with Damascus on strategic military operations.
Ford emphasized the necessity of permitting the YPG to gradually dissolve, noting that true democratic development in Syria relies on internal activism and governance, rather than foreign military intervention. He concluded, “Public activism, reinforced by the rule of law and the protection of political and personal freedoms, is the only way Syria will build a genuine democracy.”
In summary, the Israeli media has underscored significant concerns regarding the PKK’s potential disarmament, suggesting it could adversely affect Israel’s interests in the region. The anticipated shift in alliances, particularly between the PKK, YPG, and the Damascus government, reflects broader geopolitical dynamics that may alter Turkey’s influence as well. These developments necessitate careful diplomatic engagement by the United States and a recognition of the fundamental need for local Syrian governance to foster genuine democracy.
Original Source: www.dailysabah.com
