Lapid's Revelation: How Erdogan Thwarted Israel's 'Kurdish' Plan Against Iran

Disclosure of Netanyahu's Failed Plan in the Knesset Yair Lapid, the former Prime Minister and current leader of the Israeli opposition, revealed a major strategic failure during a recent speech in the Knesset. He claimed that Benjamin Netanyahu intended to use armed Kurdish groups based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to launch a large-scale operation to destabilize Iran's western borders and incite internal protests [1]. Lapid strongly criticized the government's approach, emphasizing that Netanyahu had pushed this plan forward without considering Ankara's potential reactions and Turkey's regional influence, which ultimately led to a diplomatic deadlock [2].

Erdogan's Key Role in Changing Washington's Decision According to published reports, this initiative, known as the 'Kurdish Plan,' involved the extensive arming of groups such as PJAK and KDP-I to enter Iranian territory with potential air support [3]. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, recognizing the dangers of strengthening Kurdish militant groups near his borders, intervened directly. Reports indicate that Erdogan warned US President Donald Trump in repeated contacts that such an action could lead to the creation of a 'ring of fire' in the region and total instability [5]. Following these pressures, Washington withdrew its support and halted the planned weapons shipments [1].

Lapid's Sharp Criticism of Netanyahu's 'Humiliation' In his remarks, Lapid used harsh terms to describe this failure, stating: 'Erdogan effectively taught Netanyahu a lesson and punished him' [4]. He believes the current Israeli government completely ignored Ankara's regional power and Turkey's diplomatic weight in Washington. According to Lapid, this inability to understand power balances has caused Israel to become more isolated during one of the most sensitive periods, coinciding with the formation of new understandings between the United States and Iran [3].

New Balance of Power in the Region; From Ankara to Tehran This revelation comes as the region witnesses major geopolitical changes. Analysts believe that Turkey's intervention was not only to protect its national security but also to prevent a widespread regional war that could have had unpredictable consequences for all actors [4]. While Israeli media describes this event as a 'security disaster,' in Ankara and Tehran, it is interpreted as a sign of the failure of Tel Aviv's interventionist policies. Lapid warned that if Israel does not quickly correct its diplomatic course, the price of these miscalculations will weigh heavily on the country's national security for years to come [2].