Israeli foreign minister calls for reaching out to 'natural' allies, Kurds and Druze

Israel's new foreign minister has said his country should reach out to Kurds and other regional minorities who are "natural" allies.

Gideon Saar, who was appointed foreign minister following the sacking of Yoav Gallant last week, said that they should look to Kurds, Druze and others in addition to Saudi Arabia for support in a largely hostile region.

"The Kurdish people are a great nation, one of the great nations without political independence. [They are] our natural ally," he said, speaking at his ministerial exchange and inauguration ceremony.

"It is a national minority in four different countries, in two of which it enjoys autonomy: de facto in Syria and de jure in the Iraqi constitution. He is a victim of oppression and aggression from Iran and Turkey. We need to reach out to him and strengthen our ties with him. This has both political and security aspects."

He said that the Druze minorities in Lebanon and Syria should also be reached out to.