By Özay Şendir
2026 will be a difficult year for the world in general and for our region. To overcome these challenges more easily and to be less affected by the tremors, there are things we must first be aware of.
For instance, we cannot view Israel’s move to put the “Kurdish card” on the table merely as a reactive gesture by Netanyahu against Turkey. The world has been aware of Israel’s Oded Yinon Plan since the 1980s.
This plan is a strategy for Israel to establish relations with ethnic and sectarian groups in neighboring countries it does not deem friendly, and to fragment those countries so they no longer pose a threat to Israel. The partitioning of Lebanon and the de facto division of Iraq—first through wars and then via the Constitution written by the Americans—are all parts of this plan. It is not surprising that the Israeli Air Force struck the Tammuz nuclear facility in Iraq (which Iran failed to destroy) on behalf of Iran.
On the surface, Israel and Iran are enemies, but they cooperated when it came to striking a militarily strong Iraq. MOSSAD has maintained a presence in northern Iraq since the 1950s; back then, they hosted Mullah Mustafa Barzani in MOSSAD camps in Israel.
At the point we have reached today, Israel’s project of becoming a protector of the Kurds is the implementation of its project to fragment countries it perceives as threats. If the strategy it is currently trying to implement in Syria succeeds, its next target will be to stir internal turmoil in Turkey.
We have two problems regarding this issue. The first is a strange state of mind that feels no discomfort being in Netanyahu’s pocket… It is thought-provoking that a director who studied at a university in Turkey, served in PAKURD, and now lives in France, offers praises to Netanyahu—devoid of national honor. Similarly, the call for autonomy by the Syrian wing of the Barzanis, who survived thanks to Turkey, is telling. More accurately, it is very revealing in terms of “dancing with hyenas.”
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Speaking of hyenas, as you know, they do not attack alone but in groups. His name is Failos Kranidiotis. He is the leader of a fascist party called “New Right” in Greece, which has a 0.4% vote share and is taken seriously by no one. The Greek far-right has been famous for its mob-like relations since Golden Dawn; while examining Kranidiotis, one must not forget the main point.
He served as the lawyer for Öcalan when the latter sought refuge in Greece and organized meetings against Turkey while Öcalan was in İmralı. He is not taken seriously in Athens; Prime Minister Mitsotakis expelled him from New Democracy years ago. This anti-Turkey fascist went into a frenzy after the agreement signed with Israel, writing on his social media account that after Somaliland, it is now time to establish a “united Kurdistan.”
I am not surprised that the Greek far-right, known for its mob-like ties, is in cooperation with a terrorist organization active across Europe in human trafficking, drug smuggling, and sex trafficking. However, this state of recklessness fueled by reliance on Israel is concerning. Someone needs to teach them the saying: “A dog that doesn’t know how to bark brings the wolf to the flock.” Ultimately, the reckless actions of people like Kranidiotis cause the most harm to the people living in Greece.
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The Israeli influence—or rather, the de facto Israeli administration—in the Greek Cypriot Administration is not something unknown to us. As of tomorrow, the EU Presidency will pass to the Greek Cypriot Administration. It is known that Netanyahu ordered the Greek Cypriot leader to “fix my relations with the EU.”
I have a question for the EU Representative in Ankara and the ambassadors of Germany, France, Spain, and Italy in Ankara: Have you looked at the photos of the Greek Cypriot leader and ministers having their traditional Christmas celebration dinner at military units? There isn’t a single flag of the “Republic of Cyprus” around, but Greek flags are hung everywhere.
So, you will work with an EU Term President who claims to want peace but whose only concern is serving Enosis (union with Greece), and then you will tell Turkey the story of the “Republic of Cyprus,” right?
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The irrational stance that can label the Rector of the National Defense University, Erhan Afyoncu, as an “enemy of Kurds” just because he said “I am a Turk,” is a significant indicator. It is necessary to distinguish between being a part of the steps taken by İmralı and DEM for a “Terror-Free Turkey” and being a part of Israel’s Oded Yinon Plan, and to take a stance accordingly.
There is no guarantee that Israel—which today boastfully describes how it sends money and support to protesters in Iran—will not engage in similar activities in Turkey. Conversely, there is no guarantee that Turkey’s patience will last forever.
For a happy year, it is essential for every ethnic and sectarian group in this country to seek their future within the future of Turkey. I hope it turns out that way…
