Israeli ex-minister calls for 'progressive western' independent Kurdistan

Israel's former justice minister reiterated calls on Wednesday for an independent Kurdistan, citing them as being "the most progressive and Western" in the region.

"Our national memory requires us to revolt against violence directed against another nation. Such is the Turkish violence directed against the Kurdish people in northern Syria," Ayelet Shaked said in a Facebook status.

"I have said this in the past: It is in the interest of both Israel and the United States, for the security and stability of the region, that a Kurdish state be established," she wrote.

Kurds, especially those living in Turkey and northern Syria, "are the most progressive and Western in that region", Shaked added.

"They are the main force that fought against Islamic State and endured thousands of deaths, under a special joint leadership of men and women. The Western world should stand with them."

Shaked is a Israeli politician from the far-right Jewish Home Party and has been commonly condemned for her extreme ultranationalist views that has led her to advocate genocide against Palestinians.

Her comments come after Turkey launched its Operation Peace Spring offensive to contain Kurdish forces in Syria.

Turkish warplanes earlier carried out airstrikes on the Kurdish-held city of Ras al-Ayn in northeastern Syria, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally announced the start of operations against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

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