Iraq's Al-Maliki claims Sudani gov't took 'first steps' towards Israel normalisation via Sharm el-Sheikh Gaza summit

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accused the Iraqi government under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani of "promoting normalisation with Israel" by participating in the recent Sharm el-Sheikh summit, which was meant to be an endpoint after months of talks on ending Israel's war on Gaza.

Al-Maliki's remarks on the "Jim Seen" podcast, hosted by journalist Thaer Jiyad, sparked debate over Iraq's foreign policy, particularly ahead of upcoming elections.

Al-Maliki's comments included allegations of wiretapping and information leaks under Prime Minister Sudani's administration. The podcast episode was temporarily removed following a complaint by the so-called Media Security Directorate, and later restored after public pushback, including journalists and media professionals, who regard its removal as a threat to freedom of expression.

Meanwhile, Iraqi political and security analyst Ghani Ghadban told The New Arab that the former prime minister's statements are typical of election campaigns and political competition, often used to sway voters.

Ghadban noted PM Sudani attended the Sharm el-Sheikh conference at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and Sudani's attendance was contingent on the absence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A condition that other countries, such as Turkey, also imposed.

The analyst argued that Iraq's participation in these meetings is strategic because of its regional importance, and had the primary goal of halting the war on Gaza, not to promote normalisation or comprehensive peace with Israel.

Ghadban also noted that Iraq's parliament has passed a law criminalising normalisation with Israel. "If there were any real evidence that Sudani intended to normalise relations, politicians and security authorities would have been obliged to take appropriate legal action upon his return," he remarked. "These statements are therefore seen as electoral–part of a media rivalry intended to challenge political opponents."

This situation highlights persistent political divisions in Iraq. It also shows increased sensitivity to foreign policy and renews public attention to media freedoms under Prime Minister Sudani's administration.

Iraq's parliament unanimously passed the Anti-Normalisation Law No. 1 of 2022 in mid-2022. The law made it illegal to establish any political, economic, cultural, or media ties with Israel. This legislation, the first of its kind in Iraq, reaffirms the country's constitutional position of being in a state of war with Israel. It imposes severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, for "any cooperation with the occupation."

In early October, Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein called on political parties and parliament factions to reconsider opposition to the two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He stressed the need for a renewed national debate about Iraq's official position of refusing the two-state solution, as it would recognise Israel. 

The so-called "Media Security Directorate" is not an official government body in Iraq, but rather an informal entity that has sparked recent media controversy. Legitimate state agencies managing security and media include the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC), the Security Media Cell, and the media directorate of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).