By Faruk Hanedar and Efe Ozkan
JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL (AA) - The expected disarmament of the terrorist group PKK could pose a threat to Israel's interests in Syria, according to Israeli media reports.
According to the Israeli press, a major change is likely to take place in the region with last week’s call of Abdullah Ocalan, the terrorist group ringleader, for the PKK to lay down its arms and dissolve itself.
This change has the potential to harm Israel's interests while boosting Türkiye's influence, the media argued.
In its 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, infants and the elderly. The YPG is PKK’s Syrian branch.
The PKK/YPG laying down its arms could change the power dynamics in post-Assad Syria and challenge Israel's presence in the country, said Israeli daily Haaretz.
Telling how under Assad, Syrian airspace was kept open for Israel in coordination with Russia, the daily suggested that Syrian airspace could soon be closed to Israel if Türkiye supervises it instead of Moscow.
An analysis said the PKK's disarmament and dissolution would “dramatically change” the balance of power in Syria, affect Türkiye's position, and encourage the US to withdraw troops from Syria, where it currently supports the terrorist PKK/YPG, the PKK’s Syrian branch.
Although Farhad Abdi Sahin, a ringleader of the PKK/YPG (which also calls itself SDF), argued that Ocalan's call to lay down arms was meant just for the PKK and not for the PKK/YPG, if it loses US support the group would have to follow the directives of the Syrian administration, which has ruled out any non-state armed groups in the country.
In this case, Türkiye may withdraw from the safe zones it established in recent years in northern Syria, near the Turkish border, putting Israel in a difficult situation internationally as an “occupying power in southern Syria.”
Channel 14 reported that the course of events will have great effects in northern Iraq and northern Syria.
Yedioth Ahronoth daily also said developments in Syria will force the PKK/YPG to come to an agreement with the Syrian government and that this may affect Türkiye's stance.
The Jerusalem Post said that the attitude of the terrorist PKK/YPG will be important and that Türkiye may start intensive operations to end the organization if it does not heed the call to disarm and dissolve.
The daily said that if the US changes its Syria policy, the terrorist group will be forced to come to an agreement with the Syrian government.
Jailed terrorist PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan on Feb. 27 called for the dissolution of the PKK and all groups under it, urging an end to its terror campaign spanning over 40 years.