ISRAEL’S
EXISTANCE IN IRAQ
The failure
of the US military forces to ensure control in Iraq through
the military operations strengthened their fields of
cooperation with Zionists. The operations which Israel
carried out in cities drew attention of the US officers.
This caused the US officers to go to Israel in order to
examine the operations in the city and the Israeli military
officers to begin involving in the US military training
fields.
Israel’s
former Chief of General Staff Amnon Shahagh’s involvement in
the operations aimed Shiites and Falluja and an Israeli
military unit joining the US forces as observer and
practitioner have been pointed out as headlines by the press
organs that reflect the US-Israel cooperation level. This
cooperation also exists in the armament fields to increase
the effectiveness of the US soldiers. Pentagon was
conducting the required procurement in order to collect
operational intelligence and to trace up the ambush areas of
the attacker.
The Israeli
officials turned to making use of the economic fields in
Iraq after expressing their satisfaction about the removal
of the security threat in Iraq. They started up a
psychological war and they tried to present their state
greater than it really is and how intensive their legitimacy
in the region. For example, the news reports that Mosul-Tel
Aviv pipeline will be operational again were broadcast many
times upon the request of the Israeli and the US officials.
Zionist regime also put forward all of its efforts to
benefit from the Iraqi market. The Israeli Economy Minister
mobilized all kinds of opportunities for the Israeli traders
to become effective in Iraqi economy. Within this framework,
they participate in the deals on Iraq and procure some of
the needs of the US forces with the assistance of the Neo-Conservatives
in Pentagon. The Israeli companies present their goods to
the Iraqi market together with their partners from Turkey,
Jordan, Qatar and UAE and get a share from the Iraq’s
complicated economy. Some Israeli traders act as the
subcontractor of the US and other international companies
and operate in the fields of oil, service and industry.
Zionist
history writers indicate Iraq as the homeland of the 10
great Jewish families which were taken hostage in the times
of Assyrians based on the remarks of Prophet Yusha on “The
lost of the Assyrian Land”. Therefore the Jewish rabbis got
to conducting research in Babylon and in other cities as
soon as Saddam was toppled in order to discover documents
regarding their own history. The Jewish and Zionist
institutions used the Jews’ properties, assets and
historical works as pretext for the nonsense claims of the
Israeli rabbis and called for the annexation of Iraq to
Israel by referring to Iraq as part of Greater Israel.
One of the
covert grounds of Zionists in various countries is tourism.
As the US officials admit the intense insecurity in Iraq,
the existence of Israeli tourism officials and companies in
Northern Iraq and their remarks regarding that they hold
tours for Iraqi Jews are to the surprising extent that can
not be explained through tourism. Despite the fact that
there is small number of Jews in Iraq and some of them have
been taken to Israel, all the institutions of Israel,
international Jewish Agencies and their lobbies around the
world have taken action for the attainment of identity and
power by the Jews in Iraq.
Zionist
regime has turned its past relation with Kurds into an
element of their existence and influence in Iraq. They got
to application of their multi faced scenarios in this
country by maintaining their relations with Kurds and taking
measures to ensure the immigration of 130 thousand Jews to
Israel. Although it is unrealistic to ensure the return of
the Iraqi Jews, it will be of importance as it comprises a
justified past for the claims of Zionists. Within this
framework; Kurds will be turned into a force that support
the Israeli orientations by making use of the cooperation
ground in the past and by providing new concessions to Kurds
in coordination with the USA.
Zionist
regime in Iraq uses the following instruments in order to be
able to exist in Iraq: Bush Government, Neo-Conservatives
and Zionist lobbies, Iraqi Kurds, Iraqi Jews, The Third
Countries (some Arabic and European countries), Mossad and
its intelligence network in Iraq, Israeli institutions and
companies… Israel’s intensifying attempts in Iraq involve
maximum and minimum scenarios. In the worst situation in
Iraq they followed the autonomy scenario for Kurds based on
the good relations with Kurds. In the best situation in Iraq
they will make Iraq as their most important area of
influence. The abovementioned instruments are used in the
service of those scenarios.
Although
the Zionist regime’s displaying existence and playing role
in the USA or some European countries through its lobbies
look as ordinary or even necessary, it is assessed as an
element of threat in the regional countries neighboring to
Iraq. Israel’s reinforcing its feet in Iraq and increasing
its effectiveness will change the security and policy
balance of the entire region. If this is broadened, new
alignments and new organizations parallel to Israel will
emerge. Therefore, the reaction that is displayed against
the Israeli existence in the region has exceeded the concept
of bilateral rivalry of the countries and Israel’s
effectiveness in the region has turned into a security
threat. In Turkey which has an administration structure
specific to itself, security and political officials display
sensitivity over the Iraqi occupation for the 18 months and
Israel’s activities in Northern Iraq. (…)
Iran is
worried about the Israel’s broadening political, economical
and intelligence activities on its western borders and
assesses the extension of the US forces’ length of presence
in Iraq as a factor covering and strengthening those
activities. Syria considering itself directly threatened by
Israel on its western border and the allies of Israel on its
southern border feels besieged due to the Israel’s
activities in Iraq. Saudi Arabia which is worried about the
US great strategy over the region considers the Neo
Conservatives’ threats for the division of Arabia in
parallel to the Israeli policies. For the last few years
there have been some suspicious developments within Saudi
Arabia. According to the statement of Saudi officials,
Israel has fingerprints in the events aimed at disrupting
the interior integrity and the security related with policy
and security and pushing the country to the side of USA
under the name of struggle against terrorism.
The Arab
countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and
Bahrain that have relations with the USA and sometimes
Israel stand against their own public opinion and prefer to
remain silent vis-à-vis this presence. The media and elites
of Arab and Islam countries consider the Israel’s existence
in Iraq as a threat against the Palestinian case and the
stability of Arab and Islam countries. On the other hand, it
is obvious that Zionist regime has a more threatening
attitude against Lebanon, Syria Arabia and Iran verbally and
actually compared to the period before the US occupation.
Israel’s
preferences in Iraq
The removal
of possible security threat of Saddam regime in Iraq has
been the first step taken for Israel’s achieving its aims in
this country completely. Dr. Alon Liel, one of Israel’s
diplomats in Turkey says; “there is 50 % likelihood that
Iraq will be divided. If a Kurdish state will be established
in Iraq, it should not forget the assistance which Israel
provided to Kurds in 1960’s and be friend to Israel. When
such a state is established, given the Kurdish population in
European countries and the US closeness to Kurds, it can be
said that this state will be recognized increasingly
starting from Scandinavia” and adds that “the establishment
of a Kurdish state does not run counter the Israeli
interests. However, we should not provoke the sensitivity of
Turkey which is the only real strategic friend of Israel in
the region by officially recognizing the Kurdish state.”
Given this and the previous statements of Zionist officials,
it can be said that Israel’s preference in Iraq is
establishment of a government dependent on and parallel to
the USA, division of Iraq, the establishment of a Kurdish
state or at least Kurdish federation with specific powers.
Each of the mentioned points will provide Israel a
threatening ability vis-à-vis Iran and other regional
countries regarding economic, political and security
perspectives.
The
Gains Made by Being Present in Iraq
The most
important thing which being present in Iraq will provide to
Israel is to prevent the establishment of a religious or
national government in this country. By being present in
Iraq Israel may focus on eliminating, preventing or
weakening the groups or movements that may threaten the
Zionist regime. Within this framework, Israel is deepening
its relations with Kurds independently or through the
government organs under the camouflage of the US forces or
institutions. A 60-men Kurdish group called “Marn Rishe”
underwent training in Israel in sabotage, terrorism and
abduction. This group has a great share in acts such as the
abduction and murder of Iraqi scientists in military and
nuclear fields and fomenting civil war. This close
cooperation with Kurds caused the Israelis to cross the
Iranian border escorted by the Kurdish guides and position
some developed monitoring systems in the west of Iran. Those
work carried out with the unlimited support which the US
forces and some of its institutions provided to Israel
provides the opportunity to put possible threats against
Israel under control. Israeli security forces play a
facilitating role for the abovementioned process under the
name of private security companies in some countries.
As the well-known
US author Seymour Hersh mentioned, 150 Israeli companies
operate directly or indirectly in Iraq. The following 5
Israeli companies have signed agreements of construction
repair with the Iraqi companies.
-
Dan company is operating in the field of old buses,
-
Rointeks company in the field of steel vest production,
-
Shirident Company in the field of door production,
-
Taymur company in the field of paint,
-
Tomy Company, in the field of water cleaning.
Israel
tries to attain a certain market in Iraq and a cultural
normalization in the field of purchase and sale of the
Israeli goods through its large-scale activities in the
field of economy. Israel’s economic existence in Iraq mainly
materializes through the Turkish companies and the companies
belonging to the Arab countries in the Gulf region.
In the
political field, Israel can be influential in the
legislative and executive machinery of Iraq together with
the USA. This influence which Israel has obtained has caused
the region to enter into a new stage which turn into civil
war in the fields of security and policy. There is a
stronger probability of the Organization of the Mujahideen
Al Khalq being used in the Iraqi civil war and towards the
inside of Iran. The same situation is also true for counter
revolutionist Kurdish groups in Northern Iraq.
Israel’s
existence in Iraq threatens all the countries neighboring
Iraq. Iran, Turkey, Syria, Arabia and Kuwait are among the
great targets of the Zionist regime. Although in the near
future the negative results of Israel’s political, economic
and intelligence influence in Iraq will influence the entire
region, Turkey, Iran and Syria are among the strategic
priorities of Israel.
What
State is Iraq in After Saddam?
It has been
three years since the occupation in Iraq. However, neither
restructuring work nor the security in the country has
reached to the promised levels. Some basic data regarding
the daily life of 27 million Iraqis are as follows:
War,
embargo and looting have turned to Iraqi infrastructure to
ruins. After the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003, it was
mentioned that the cost of the restructuring would be 55
billion dollar. The USA pledged to provide an aid of 18,4
billion dollar, other international donors pledged to
provide an aid of 13,6 million dollar. However, during the
time which passed, security is still the greatest obstacle
for restructuring. Restructuring work has almost stopped in
various regions. The problems that occurred regarding the
electricity and water resources have become a part of daily
life for many people.
According
to a research, only a little more than half of households in
the country have regular access to drinking water. The Iraqi
officials complain about the shortage of the funds. Up to
now only five per cent of the resources which have been
promised – in other words 5,5 billion dollar – was spent.
Also, some of the resources expected to be used for
restructuring have been shifted to security issues. The
estimates as to what this shift is in the US funds change
between 10 and 50 per cent.
The USA
announced that the war was over in May 2003. However,
despite the election of a civilian government, there is no
signal indicating a decrease occurred in the violence in the
post-Saddam Hussein. Nobody knows definitely that how many
Iraqi civilians were killed in Iraq since the occupation.
According to the nonofficial figures this changes between 20
thousand and 100 thousand. The number of US soldiers which
have been killed since the beginning of occupation is almost
2.300. The new security forces which are stated to number
more than 140 thousand are faced with insurgency which is
increasingly getting violent. It is believed that tens of
groups that have various targets and operate within the
framework of a loose cooperation from time to time are
active in the country.
In some
Sunni regions, it is claimed that the insurgents under the
leadership of Abu Musab al- Zarqawi, the Jordanian militant
cooperate with the forces loyal to Saddam Hussein and target
the Shiite civilians. Also, in 2004 the fighters subordinate
to Muqteda al-Sadr, the Shiite cleric in the Najaf city
initiated two revolts and acts of violence occurred.
Iraq has a
population of approximately 27 million a great majority of
which is Muslim and most people live in the eastern cities
of the country. 60% of the people are Shiite Arabs, 20 % are
Sunni Arabs and 17 % Sunni Kurds. Under the Saddam Hussein
regime, the rule of political and economic life was within
the power of Sunni Arab minority. However, this circle
boycotted the elections held in January to a great extent.
Some part of the votes went to Shiite Arabs. The Sunni Kurds
living in the north of country has an autonomous
administration the extent of which has varied since 1991.
Iraq has the greatest reserve of crude oil in the world. It
is also the region the fields of which have been surveyed
least. However, the oil industry has serious problems as a
result of sanctions and insufficient investment. If all the
conditions realize in the most optimal way, it is considered
that Iraq may produce up to six million barrels per day.
This figure is almost twice as much as the highest point of
3.5 million barrels which was achieved before the breakup of
the war with Iran in 1979. However, the attacks carried out
by the insurgents against the pipelines and pump centers
result in the production failure to reach 2.5 million
barrels before the occupation. As of the first half of 2005
production became 1 million 800 thousand barrels per day.
However, oil still corresponds to the 60 % of the Iraq’s
gross domestic product . The high oil prices results in an
increase of this share.
20-30 years
ago Iraq had one of the best health systems in the Middle
East. When Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003, the system
almost collapsed as a result of the sanctions and the wars.
The indications for health deteriorated abruptly since 1990.
The death rate among children under the age of five and
newly born babies is very high. One quarter of the children
under the age of five are faced with problems caused by
malnutrition. The death rate in the mothers is among the
highest in the region. While the resource that has been
allocated to health was 16 million dollar in 2002, it
reached almost one billion dollar in 2004. However, it is
quite difficult to renew the facilities that have been
ignored and damaged for years. It is hard to reach to many
medicine.
Almost all
of the Iraqis benefit from the food aids which are provided
with ration tickets. The United Nations state that 25% of
the Iraqis have only those rations as their single source of
food. Those rations consisting of wheat, beans and rice
provide 80 % of the average calorie that should be received
per day. However the aid does not involve meat, vegetable or
fruit. Many families sell those food aids in order to meet
their needs. The malnutrition that is high despite the aids
is attributed to this fact. (Ruz Journal / August 2006)
