Talabani: Iraq not ready for Israel ties

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani made clear on Friday that Iraq was not yet ready for diplomatic ties with Israel and that it would not follow the Pakistani model and begin negotiations with Israeli officials.

Speaking at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy in Washington, Talabani said Iraq would recognize Israel only after the Arab League resolutions concerning the Israeli–Palestinian conflict were implemented and after a Palestinian state was declared.

“We are committed to the decisions taken unanimously by the Arab summit in Beirut,” said Talabani in response to questions presented by Israeli reporters at the event. “Many Arab states are forming relations with Israel and if Israel will reach an agreement with the Palestinians, it will facilitate [having relations with Israel].”

The Iraqi president stressed that “it will be difficult now” for Iraq to move forward toward diplomatic relations with the Israelis but added that Iraq held moderate views concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that he would not be “more Palestinian than the Palestinians,” meaning that Iraq would not demand any further actions from Israel beyond those that were set forth by the Beirut summit of the Arab League.

He added that the move by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to begin a dialogue with Israel was not relevant to the Iraqi case because Pakistan is not an Arab country and was not committed to the decisions of the Arab League.

While “there is no hostility between Iraq and Israel,” Talabani said he does not intend to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during the United Nations convention in New York this week.

Talabani also refuted rumors that thousands of Israelis were already working in Iraq, calling those rumors “propaganda.” Nevertheless, after the press conference, he met with Israeli businessman Haim Saban and encouraged Israelis to invest in Iraq.