Combating Red Sea terror is in the national interest

No quick decision will be made on the US request to send an Australian warship to the Red Sea. The navy’s current focus, as, Defence Minister Richard Marles says, is on “our immediate region”. That said, sending a warship to join an international force combating Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks in the Red Sea is in Australia’s interests. That is as true now as it was when we joined the international force assembled after 9/11 to rid Afghanistan of al-Qa’ida, and when we played our part in defeating Islamic State in 2019. The threats posed by the Houthis demand similar international co-operation. Heavily armed and trained by Iran, the Houthis have been launching increasing missile and drone strikes against Israel, US Navy ships and commercial shipping in the highly strategic Red Sea, through which much of the world’s oil supply passes. Since Hamas slaughtered 1200 Israelis and kidnapped 240 on October 7, the Houthis have increasingly become part of the onslaught against Israel, which has grave implications for the free world.

Their recent attacks have included slamming a missile into a Norwegian-flagged tanker off Yemen and threatening global shipping transiting the Suez Canal, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Protecting maritime trade in the area was a “critical global task”, defence expert Professor Paul Dibb told chief international correspondent Cameron Stewart. And Australia has a history, Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said, of being involved in allied operations upholding international laws and trying to secure peace and stability, especially related to commerce. As a responsible player in the Western alliance we should be involved.

In Israel, distress over Australia playing into the hands of Hamas is understandable. So are questions in Washington and elsewhere about the fact we broke with AUKUS allies the US and UK in supporting a UN resolution that demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution did not even mention Hamas and its often-stated intention to annihilate Israel and all Jews. The UN resolution does call for the release of all hostages, but it doesn’t mention Hamas by name and doesn’t require it to do anything at all. But, as Greg Sheridan wrote, the government’s position is incoherent.

In a joint statement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the New Zealand leader, Christopher Luxon, Mr ­Albanese demanded that: “Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms. There is no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.” The government, as Sheridan argued, is “speaking out of both sides of its mouth to say contradictory things in the hope that contradictory audiences can be similarly appeased”. Joining the international naval force is an opportunity to make amends for the bizarre muddle over the UN vote.

The alarming 783 per cent surge in serious incidents of anti-Semitism across Australia since the October 7 attack also demands resolute leadership. Few Australians with knowledge of the Second World War ever thought they’d see threats on our shores such as: “There are multiple bombs in the Jewish Centre (and they) will explode in a few hours. You will all DIE. I will also slash your family’s throats, I will slash their veins with a knife.” The unmitigated hatred, detailed by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, is eroding the confidence of the nation’s 100,000 Jews. It is time for the government to assert the best of Australian values, at home and internationally.