Throughout the past century, the dominant political discourse in the Middle East has revolved around the question of Palestine. Although this issue has historical and humanitarian significance, it has gradually turned into a tool in the hands of authoritarian regimes and Islamist movements. The Islamic Republic of Iran, various Arab regimes, and political Islam have used the Palestinian cause as a façade to suppress freedom, mislead public opinion, and prevent political and social development in the region. The slogan of “Free Palestine” has, in practice, become an instrument to consolidate tyranny and crush domestic movements for liberty, while the Palestinians themselves have become victims of this political game. 

In contrast, the Kurdish question remains one of the most deeply rooted and unresolved crises of the Middle East. Kurdistan, with a population of nearly 50 million people and an area of around half a million square kilometers, lies at the heart of the Middle East, divided among four states: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. This forced division, imposed after World War I, was among the most unjust legacies of the colonial order in the region. The Kurdish nation—with its distinct history, language, culture, and homeland—was denied even the most basic national and political rights throughout the twentieth century and has continuously been subjected to assimilation, denial, and systematic repression. 

Kurdistan holds not only historical and cultural significance but also strategic and natural importance. Rich in oil, gas, and above all water—one of the most vital resources in the region—Kurdistan occupies a central position in the Middle Eastern balance. The coming decades’ conflicts in the region will revolve largely around water, and Kurdistan will play a decisive role in that struggle. The ongoing instability and oppression of the Kurdish people are like an open wound in the body of the Middle East—one that must be healed before genuine peace and stability can ever be achieved. 

A just solution to the Kurdish question and the recognition of the Kurdish people’s right to self-determination could serve as a model for a new coexistence and an end to the cycles of tyranny and violence in the Middle East. Moreover, the recognition of Kurdish national rights would directly benefit the security and existence of Israel and, in the long term, align with the regional interests of the United States and Europe. Unlike fundamentalist forces, the Kurdish people represent a secular, democratic, and pro-Western movement that could become a stabilizing bridge for cooperation in the Middle East. 

In other words, the Middle East will never achieve lasting peace without resolving the Kurdish question. Palestine may symbolize a historical pain, but the most deeply rooted and unresolved issue of the region is the stateless nation and divided homeland known as Kurdistan.