Some analysts warn Washington’s decision to pull its troops from northern Syria, will create a vacuum to be filled by powers that don’t share Israel’s interests.

JERUSALEM—“Israel strongly condemns the Turkish invasion of the Kurdish areas in Syria and warns against the ethnic cleansing of the Kurds by Turkey and its proxies,’’ declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

As Turkey launched an offensive against Kurdish-controlled areas of northeastern Syria following US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from areas, Netanyhau said Israel ‘’is prepared to extend humanitarian assistance to the gallant Kurdish people.”

In 2014, Netanyahu expressed support for an independent Kurdistan. He praised the Kurds’ “political commitment and political moderation,” and said they were “worthy of their own political independence.” But he has avoided criticizing Washington’s decision to pull its troops from northern Syria, which some analysts warn will create a vacuum to be filled by powers that don’t share Israel’s interests.

The Jewish population of Kurdish background in Israel is estimated today at over 150,000. The largest concentration of Kurdish Jews can be found around Jerusalem. The Jews of Kurdish origin play an important part in maintaining unofficial cultural and business relations between Israel and Iraqi Kurdistan.