On September 5 and 6, the second gathering of the Jewish and Kurdish diasporas convened, highlighted by a message from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. While the communication was a routine gesture for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, it carried substantial significance for the Kurdish community, which numbers around 40 million worldwide yet remains the largest unrecognized nation without formal statehood or international representation.

Kurds differ markedly from other stateless national groups in that they lack formal recognition, diplomatic representation, or observer status at the United Nations. For comparison, Palestinians hold observer status at the UN and receive diplomatic recognition in many Western countries, illustrating an asymmetry in international acknowledgment that Kurds have not achieved despite their much larger population.

This lack of recognition manifests in daily restrictions and symbolic repression. In Turkey, for instance, Kurdish language usage in parliament is officially recorded as speech in an “unknown language,” despite Turkey operating a government-funded Kurdish-language TV channel. Similarly, Kurdish parents in Germany with Turkish passports face bureaucratic restrictions on naming their children due to Turkish laws that prohibit certain Kurdish letters, effectively extending the denial of Kurdish identity beyond Turkey’s borders.

Against this backdrop, the recent diplomatic moves by Israel have caught the attention of Kurdish observers. In December 2025, Israel became the first country to officially recognize Somaliland, an autonomous and self-governing region in the Horn of Africa. Israel proceeded with formal diplomatic exchanges despite objections from Somalia’s central government, signaling a willingness to break with international conventions that ignore de facto political realities. This precedent raises expectations among Kurds for potential recognition.

However, Kurdish political leadership currently lacks a unified representative body or national congress capable of engaging in formal diplomacy or issuing a collective mandate. The diaspora, though, offers a promising avenue for advocacy and international engagement. Kurdish activists argue that their situation parallels the early stages of Jewish self-determination, which was largely forged in exile before the establishment of the State of Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has invested in strengthening ties with global Jewish communities, exemplified by his recent participation in the Jewish State of Origin Forum in Jerusalem, held shortly before the Kurdish diaspora meeting. Kurdish advocates propose leveraging those advocacy networks to raise international awareness and support for Kurdish national aspirations.

The geopolitical context further underscores the potential for closer Israeli-Kurdish cooperation. Relations between Israel and Turkey, a country with significant Kurdish populations and contentious policies toward them, have deteriorated to historic lows. Sa’ar characterized recent remarks by Turkey’s foreign minister as calls for genocide, indicating a sharp decline in diplomatic relations. This tension reduces previous constraints on Israeli engagement with Kurds and suggests a strategic opening.

While Kurds remain cautious of Western promises based on past disappointments, many see Israel’s recent actions as a significant gesture. Unlike other states, Israel has publicly acknowledged Kurdish nationhood at a political cost, signaling that further recognition and cooperation are possible. The recognition of Somaliland stands as evidence that Israel can act independently in complex international situations.

Overall, Israel’s recent diplomatic moves have invigorated Kurdish hopes for formal recognition, encouraging diaspora advocacy and signaling potential shifts in regional alliances. Both communities appear poised to explore the possibilities that bold foreign policy decisions may bring for long-standing national aspirations.