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Baghdad: A controversial Iraqi politician has revealed that scores of Iraqi children are being treated in Tel Aviv, however, Mithal Al Alousi, has denied any role in transferring these children for treatment.
"My information indicates that 180 Iraqi children are being treated for heart disease in Tel Aviv and this process is ongoing. Iraqi children have the right to have medical treatment anywhere, including Israel, because we should not ask patients about the source of treatment or medication," Al Alousi told Gulf News.
However, Al Alousi has not disclosed his source and has also denied being behind sending the children to Israel. A few months ago Israeli media reported that Israel had sponsored Iraqi children from Kurdistan to undergo life-saving heart surgery.
According to political sources in Baghdad most children who travelled to Israel for medical treatment were from Iraq's northern region of Kurdistan.
Denied
Jamal Abdullah, the Kurdish government spokes-man, however, denied the report.
"This is not true, because we don't have relations with Israel. It is true, we send patients for treatment abroad, but we send them to Arab countries, Europe and Iran," he told Gulf News.
The Iraqi deputy who visited Tel Aviv in 2004 to participate in an international academic conference, called for Iraq to move forward and have an official relationship with Israel because "Iraq has economic and strategic importance and should not be isolated from the ongoing peace process in the Middle East."
His visit to Israel four years ago created controversy and debate in Iraq. He was then politically affiliated with Ahmad Chalabi, head of the Iraqi National Conference Party, which is a pro-government party. Al Alousi has now broken out and created his own political party called the Nation Party.
Al Alousi is considered one of the most prominent political figures in Baghdad who adopts a bold position in supporting Iraqi-Israeli relations.
Al Alousi added that one of the main targets of terrorists in Iraq is to abort the peace process in the region thus Palestinians, Israelis and Americans should not isolate Iraq.
Ala' a Al Qaisi, a political researcher, told Gulf News: "I believe the reason behind the Iraqi government's reservation of rapprochement with Israel despite US support, is that current leaders of various political blocs fear this move would provide a great service for armed groups, foremost Al Qaida."
Iraqi analysts believe that Israel cannot be neutral towards what is happening in Iraq as long as Israel's main enemy Al Qaida led by Osama Bin Laden and other religious fundamental forces including Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadr are active in this large Arab country.
- With additional inputs from Khalil Al Assali, Correspondent, Occupied Jerusalem
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