jerusalem israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu lobby world power prevent setbacks iraqi kurds lose grind baghdad army israeli officials say israel major power endorse statehood kurds partly say analysts see ethnic group whose population split among iraq turkey syria iran buff share adversaries iraqi arm force retake oil-rich kirkuk region week follow sept. 25 referendum kurdish independence reject baghdad deliver blow kurds statehood quest israeli officials say netanyahu raise iraqi kurds plight phone call german chancellor angela merkel last week russian president vladimir putin wednesday also come contact france israeli national security adviser meir ben-shabbat discuss matter trump administration officials washington week officials say netanyahu government official decline name give sensitivity israel-kurdish tie suggest israel security interest kurdistan give proximity israel enemies tehran damascus territory foothold strategic place official say without provide detail say israel want see iraqi kurds provide mean protect add would best someone give weaponry whatever else give obviously israel maintain discreet military intelligence business tie kurds since 1960s absence open tie autonomous region northern iraq israel netanyahu recent lobby focus kurdish ambition iraq central baghdad government grow close israel foe iran issue present ... prevent attack kurds extermination kurds harm autonomy region something turkey iran internal shi ite power iraq part iraqi government want netanyahu intelligence minister israel katz tell tel aviv radio station 102 fm friday clear extent netanyahu outreach may solicit kurdish regional government krg northern iraq shy away public engagement israel worry alienate arab neighbour unite nations voice concern report civilians mainly kurds drive part northern iraq retake iraqi force house businesses loot destroy prime minister certainly engage unite state russia germany france stop kurds harm katz say another israeli official speak reuters condition anonymity frame netanyahu efforts moral imperative kurds deeply pro-western people deserve support say netanyahu lobby world power stem iraqi kurd setbacks