Children from Iraq's northern region of Kurdistan are being treated in Israeli hospitals, according to sources quoted by Gulf News.com. Kurdish government spokesman Jamal Abdullah denied the report, saying that "we do not have relations with Israel. He added that he has sent patients to Arab countries, Europe and Iran.
Several leaders in Iraq have urged cooperation with Israel but fear that doing so would strengthen Al Qaeda. Gulf News quoted Iraqi analysts as saying that Israel cannot remain neutral towards events in Iraq because of Al Qaeda activities there.