The Israeli Knesset this week held an unprecedented parliamentary debate on whether to recognize the independence of Kabylie, marking the first time a foreign parliament formally examines the self-determination claim of the restive region in northern Algeria.
The initiative comes one month after the Kabyle Provisional Government proclaimed the “Federal Republic of Kabylie” during a ceremony in Paris on 14 December 2025, a development that shifted the movement from cultural revendication into a formal sovereignty bid.
The debate was triggered by the registration of an urgent proposal on 14 January to study recognition of Kabylie’s independence and explore potential diplomatic relations with the emerging entity.
The motion was introduced by MK Dan Illouz (Likud) and co-sponsored by Ohad Tal, Yitzhak Kroizer, and Meir Cohen, who took the podium to argue that the Kabyle case deserved consideration within Israel’s foreign policy framework. The initiative was confirmed and detailed in multiple reports this week.
Delivering the government’s formal response, Sharren Haskel, Deputy Director of the North Africa Department at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Israeli diplomatic apparatus is actively examining the Kabylie issue, signalling that Jerusalem is prepared to study the implications of the issue within a broader North African strategic context.
The rare parliamentary session delved into the political situation of the Kabyle people, their long-standing calls for independence, and the potential geopolitical impact of recognizing a new state in North Africa.
Speaking to Le360, MK Dan Illouz, who is of Moroccan Jewish descent, framed the initiative as both a moral commitment and a strategic choice.
Illouz argued that Israel should stand with “forces of liberty” against radical regimes in the region and recalled the Kabyle community’s solidarity with Israel after the 7 October attacks.
From the Kabylie movement, Aksel Bellabbaci, adviser to the Kabyle leader in exile, welcomed the Knesset session as a significant achievement in their diplomatic offensive.
