Iraqi Govt. Ready for Dialogue on Condition of Canceling Kurdish Referendum

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi addresses the media during a joint news conference with Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani in Irbil, April 6, 2015. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi addresses the media during a joint news conference with Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani in Irbil, April 6, 2015. (Reuters)
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Iraqi Govt. Ready for Dialogue on Condition of Canceling Kurdish Referendum

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi addresses the media during a joint news conference with Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani in Irbil, April 6, 2015. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi addresses the media during a joint news conference with Iraqi Kurdish President Masoud Barzani in Irbil, April 6, 2015. (Reuters)

The Iraqi government on Monday responded to calls by Kurdistan to engage in dialogue, by calling on the province to cancel the results of the independence referendum, which was held last month.

In a brief statement, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi’s spokesman, Saad al-Hodeithi, underlined the need for the Kurdish province to “commit to the Constitution and the decisions of the federal court”, noting that the results of the “unconstitutional referendum should be canceled before engaging in any serious dialogue to promote Iraq’s unity.”

His comments followed an announcement by the Kurds of the establishment of a political leadership council for Iraq’s Kurdistan, calling on the government in Baghdad to launch “a serious dialogue.”

A source close to the Iraqi prime minister told Asharq Al-Awsat: “We regret attempts to divide the country and separate the North ... I think that Baghdad will not negotiate with the Kurdistan Political Council, because it emerged from the unrecognized referendum council.”

Other Iraqi sources said that a group of Kurdish deputies arrived in Baghdad on Monday to attend a parliamentary session the next day. However, they were informed by Vice President Nouri al-Maliki’s deputies that they would be prevented from entering parliament until they renounce the referendum.

Earlier this week, Maliki called for deploying all efforts “to prevent the outbreak of fighting with the Kurdish people and to foil attempts to ignite a military conflict to cover up the failure of the leadership of the province.”

He welcomed in a statement issued by his office “the return of our brothers, including MPs and employees, who rejected Barzani’s plot and who formed a high opposition rate during the vote on the referendum”.

He also called on countries, which “were behind this adventure to leave Iraq to its people”.



Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week.

"These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh.

Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said.

"We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added.

Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.

During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears.

B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023.

Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank.

Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a US citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night.

Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said.

"Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future."

Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.