Israel deserves strong Western support in fight against terrorism

Politicians in democratic governments must wake up and face the reality that Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation funded and directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. As Amir Maimon notes, the IRGC trains and oversees Hezbollah and should be sanctioned and isolated (“Diplomacy can’t beat action in latest Mid-East escalation”, 26/9).

Since October 7, approximately 9000 rockets have been launched from Lebanon, yet Israel has shown remarkable restraint in avoiding further escalation. Now, Israel’s main objective should be establishing a buffer zone in southern Lebanon to ensure the safe return of 70,000 displaced civilians to northern Israel. Following the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel conflict, the UN passed Resolution 1701 to create a buffer zone south of the Litani River, to be enforced by UN peacekeepers.

While Maimon argues that the UN Security Council should enforce this resolution, the UN, like in many other conflicts, has proven unwilling or unable to fulfil its mandate, leaving Israel with no choice but to move forward with a ground offensive. As the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel is battling three Iranian-backed terrorist groups. With Iran on the verge of becoming a nuclear threat to the region and the world, this is not the time for Israel’s allies to call for restraint or de-escalation.

Instead, they must stand firmly with Israel, which is on the frontline in the fight against terrorism.

John Kempler, Rose Bay, NSW

Chatham House in London is not known for its attempts at humour, but how else could one interpret the following description of a large Hezbollah missile fired at Tel Aviv yesterday (“IDF ‘preparing for ground invasion’ as Hezbollah fires missile at Tel Aviv”, 26/8).

The commentator stated: “That only one missile was used, and that it was only targeting Mossad, suggests that the attack was meant to be symbolic retaliation rather than a formal declaration of war.” I wonder if the people sitting in Tel Aviv air raid shelters awaiting a medium-range missile to strike their largest city thought that it was more than likely a symbolic gesture?

Perhaps sitting on the Chesterfield in front of the open fire at Chatham House generates a different perspective of the lethal reality of the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Tom Moylan, Dunkley Park, WA

Victorian Liberals in disarray

There is a narrow window for the Coalition to squeeze through if it is to win the next federal election. It must include the recovery of some seats lost to Labor and the teals in Victoria in 2022. Sadly, the Victorian division of the Liberal Party is the lead in the Coalition’s saddle bags. At the last federal poll it won just eight of 39 seats, and at the state level its nemesis has governed for most of the past 25 years.

As Peta Credlin writes (“Deeming saga a tale of Lib leadership gone bad”, 27/9) it has been sufficiently spooked as to lose its ideological compass. In effect it is Labor-lite: Why would punters vote for a pale imitation when they can have the real thing? If that’s not enough, in an effort to appease those who will never vote for it, leader John Pesutto’s crusade against Moira Deeming only serves to further damage the Liberal brand. The NSW and Victorian divisions of the party appear in disarray. It’s keeping the Albanese government in the hunt.

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

The Pesutto-Deeming trial is seriously Alice in Wonderland stuff. How any competent politician couldn’t have handled the media on what was no more than a storm in a teacup has me beat.

The Liberals are bereft of talent in Victoria if this is the best they can do. And the grandees that have their pawprints on this must be out of touch with reality too. Instead of a neat clean-up job we have expulsion and defamation sagas. If the party continues at this rate it will be in opposition forever.

Paul Everingham, Hamilton, Qld

Lowe growth in weakened economy

The comments of former Reserve Bank governor Dr Philip Lowe, concerning the economy (“Supply check-up just what Dr Lowe ordered”, 26/09) are revealing, especially when placed beside the splendid cartoon by Johannes Leak, suggesting the pronouncements by PM Albanese and Treasurer Chalmers are illusory and ought be disregarded. Dr Lowe observes that GDP growth is slow and inflation is not coming down quickly due to incredibly weak supply. He adds that productivity growth has stopped. The consequences, according to Dr Lowe, include stationary demand and economic stagnation. His expert opinion is to be preferred to the amateur pronouncements of politicians more interested in securing another term than securing Australia’s economic future. Thus far their snake oil beguilement has failed us, as is clearly exposed by Leak’s cartoon.

Ian Dunlop, Hawks Nest, NSW