The Erbil Effort: Iraqis across the spectrum rally for ties with Israel

• Author: JPOST EDITORIAL
• Published date: 26 September 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The unusual convention was organized by the New York-based think tank Center for Peace Communications.

Although Israel has had long, cordial relations with the Kurdish autonomy, the size of the gathering and the type of people who attended made the conference stick out. That both Sunni and Shi'ite leaders attended is noteworthy in its own right, but even more so given the focus on creating diplomatic ties with Israel. The attendees reportedly came from six governorates, including Baghdad and Mosul, and ranged from youth activists and intellectuals to tribal leaders.

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The closing statement by Dr. Sahar al-Tai read, "We demand our integration into the Abraham Accords. Just as these agreements provide for diplomatic relations between the signatories and Israel, we also want normal relations with Israel.

"No force, local or foreign, has the right to prevent this call," added Tai, who is head of research at the Iraqi federal government's Culture Ministry.

In keeping with the spirit that last year motivated the Abraham Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, the focus is on normalizing ties between Israel and the Muslim world, not at the expense of the Palestinians but without placing Palestinian demands at the forefront and thus enabling them to thwart any normalization initiative.

The meeting was greeted enthusiastically in Israel. In a tweet, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said, "Israel extends its hand back in peace," noting, "This is a call that comes from below and not from above, from the people and not from the government, and the recognition of the historical injustice done to the Jews of Iraq is especially important."

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said, "Since the day this government took office, our goal has been to expand the Abraham Accords. The event in Iraq inspires hope for places we have not thought of before.

"We and Iraq share a common history and roots in the Jewish community, and whenever someone reaches out to us, we will do everything to reach back," he added.

The Iraqi government condemned the gathering, issuing an official statement on behalf of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi saying the rally "did not represent the opinion of the...