International Jewish-Kurdish conference kicks off in London

Jewish and Kurdish leaders gathered in London for a conference aimed at turning a relationship that stretches back roughly 2,700 years into practical cooperation for the future.

The two-day event, titled “Jewish, Kurdish Relations in a Changing Middle East: History, Identity and Future Cooperation,” brought together leaders, scholars, academics, journalists, activists and civil society representatives. Participants traveled from Israel, the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States and across Kurdistan.

The Jewish Kurdish Network London organized the conference with the London Center for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism and Tel Aviv University's Moshe Dayan Center Kurdish Studies Department. Organizers said Jewish and Kurdish communities had lived alongside one another across Kurdistan and the wider region for thousands of years.

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For thousands of years, the ancestors of Jews and Kurds lived side-by-side. Thousands of years later, their great-great-grandchildren have come together in London because we believe that this relationship should not belong only to history.

“For thousands of years, the ancestors of Jews and Kurds lived side-by-side,” JKN spokespersons said. “Thousands of years later, their great-great-grandchildren have come together in London because we believe that this relationship should not belong only to history.” They said the conference would pursue education, research, political dialogue, cultural exchange and stronger links between the two diasporas.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar sent a video address supporting the gathering. He highlighted the long-standing friendship between Jews and Kurds and said the Kurdish people, spread across four countries, had not yet achieved political independence. Sa'ar also stressed the importance of strengthening ties among minorities in the Middle East, particularly Jews and Kurds.

Another emotional moment came from Lisa Mira, an Israeli Jew who spends time in Iraqi Kurdistan supporting Yazidi genocide survivors. She shared accounts of her grassroots work with delegates.

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to take the friendship and historical connection between our peoples and turn it into something meaningful for the future, through education, research, political dialogue, cultural exchange, and stronger relationships between our diasporas.