War with Hezbollah? Don’t bank on Australian support
The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council has voiced its concern that news reports claim that Israel’s ambassador to Australia was advised by the Australian deputy foreign minister that there would be no support if a war breaks out with Hezbollah.
Ambassador Amir Maimon
Ambassador Amir Maimon was summoned to Deputy Foreign Minister Tim Watts ten days ago to learn of Australia’s position. The Daily Telegraph’s James Campbell drew attention to the fact that it was not dealt with the Foreign Minister Penny Wong, which he wrote was “insulting”.
AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said, “Hezbollah is a terrorist group proscribed in Australia and many other countries. Since October 8 last year, it has fired many thousands of rockets, anti-tank missiles, mortars and drones at Israel. Roughly 70,000 people have been displaced from their homes in northern Israel for more than eight months because of this unprovoked aggression. Recently, Hezbollah has deliberately caused vast bushfires across Israel’s north.
“Israel has the right to prevent this ongoing terrorist aggression by force if necessary, just as any country has the right to defend itself against terrorism. If it is accurate that our Government informed Israel that it will not support its exercise of this universal right, it would show an appalling lack of principle. It is simply unacceptable that Hezbollah’s attacks have effectively shrunk Israel’s borders, and that so many people are refugees within their own country. We should all remember that UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted at the end of Israel’s war against Hezbollah in 2006, required Hezbollah to demilitarise the south of Lebanon and withdraw to the Litani River, demands that Hezbollah has steadfastly ignored.
“We understand the desire to avoid further conflict, but if we are berating and threatening our democratic ally as it exercises its right to self-defence, this can only give succour to the terrorists attacking it, and is therefore contrary not only to basic self-defence principles and morality, but would also be contrary to our national interest,” Dr Rubenstein concluded.
Liberal Senator Dave Sharma says the Albanese government has “completely lost its moral compass”.
The Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon was formally summoned to a meeting with the Albanese government ten days ago in Canberra over reprimands for the war in the Middle East.
Amir Maimon warned Israel could not guarantee support from Australia if they go to war with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Senator Dave Sharma told Sky News host Chris Kenny that the government “completely misunderstands” the strategic situation.
Dave Sharma is right. And the government completely misunderstand the situation in the north because they’re not interested enough to find out about it, don’t even seem to realise that there are around 800,000 Israelis displaced from northern Israel since the Hezbollah attacks have been taking place over the past few months, nor do they seem to know that Hezbollah itself has changed Lebanon dramatically over the years since their formation in southern Lebanon with Israel in their sights. What a woefully ignorant Australian government, spouting about the 20,000 Australians in Lebanon they’re concerned about, insulting Amir Maimon with their ignorance of Israeli affairs, calling him in to tell him we won’t support Israel against this Iran backed terrorist militia. One ABC reporter even asked the question today, do we recognise Israel’s right to be where they are in the north? Things are going from bad to worse with this Labor government; can’t wait to boot them out.