Coalition at odds with US on Israel conflict
Liberal frontbencher James Paterson argued Israel should not agree to any ceasefire unless Iran’s terror proxies can pose no future military threat.
The Coalition is at odds with the US over the conflict in the Middle East, Liberal frontbencher James Paterson has conceded, arguing that Israel should not agree to any ceasefire unless Iran’s terror proxies are “degraded” and can pose no future military threat.
After Anthony Albanese came under fire for failing to match US language on Israel including its right to strike at Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, Senator Paterson on Sunday said the Coalition’s policy was not in line with the Biden administration’s push for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
He said it was “not a remarkable thing” for Australia to have a different position on the conflict than the US, despite Peter Dutton last week lashing Labor for being out of step with the rhetoric of US President Joe Biden.
“It wouldn’t be remarkable for an Australian politician to disagree with an American politician, particularly as the US administration under President Biden and Vice-President (Kamala) Harris is a centre-left administration,” Senator Paterson told the ABC.
“I am from a centre-right political party. There will be times that we disagree and mature adults can be open and honest … I think that is unremarkable.
“We are very strong supporters of Israel. We understand the circumstances they face. God forbid Australia ever faces challenges that Israel faces. God forbid Australian politicians are ever faced with these choices. But if we are, I expect the Australian public would expect their government to respond as decisively as Israel has.”
With Labor claiming its position is in line with the US, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said “the Liberals finally realise they’re at odds with the international community, including the US, who are all pressing for peace”.
“We know Mr Dutton is negative about everything but it’s pretty extreme to be negative about a ceasefire that saves civilian lives and prevents further disastrous escalation of conflict,” Senator Wong said.
“He’s so focused on dividing Australians over this conflict that he doesn’t realise how isolated his position is.”
In the past fortnight, the Coalition and Jewish groups have accused Anthony Albanese of failing to back Israel to the same extent as the US.
In the days after Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel, the Prime Minister said Israel had a right to defend itself but refused to join Mr Biden in declaring the Jewish state had a right to respond.
Defence Minister Richard Marles was the first member of the Albanese government to declare Israel had a right to respond to Iran’s attack – nearly a week after Tehran launched missiles towards Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other cities.
The government has also differed from the US in failing to express support for Israeli strikes and ground incursions into Lebanon aiming to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Millar last week rejected Hezbollah’s push for a ceasefire in Lebanon and backed the “limited ground incursions that (the IDF) are undertaking”, limiting US backing of a ceasefire to Gaza.
However, the Vice-President Kamala Harris, who is campaigning for president, said last week she supported a ceasefire in Lebanon.
“We have got to reach a ceasefire both as it relates to what’s happening in Lebanon and, of course, Gaza. We are working around the clock in that regard,” she said.
Senator Paterson said the Coalition did not think now was the time for a ceasefire in Gaza or Lebanon.
“We ultimately want to see an end to this conflict, he said. “But in my view that will happen only once Hamas releases the hostages and once Hamas is degraded so they no longer pose an ongoing threat to Israel from Gaza.
“And once the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was passed in 2006 unanimously by the UN Security Council, restores that demilitarised status of southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River.
“Until those things can be resolved, then I think there’s going to be ongoing conflict, sadly.”
Writing in The Australian, Strategic Analysis Australia director Peter Jennings warns against a ceasefire and says Israel should ignore US warnings against strikes at Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
“A compelling strategic logic drives Israel’s choice: they can do their best (which will be pretty good) to destroy Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, or wait for Tehran to declare it has working bombs by Christmas,” Mr Jennings writes.
“Given that choice, what would you advise (Benjamin) Netanyahu to do? Pause for a ceasefire maybe, so that the proxies can rearm and start firing huge numbers of missiles at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv?
“Or perhaps one would advise Israel to embrace a “two-state” solution, the effect of which would be to give Iran’s proxy Hamas, or Fatah in the West Bank a seat in the UN.
“A pause gives Tehran time to reprocess the uranium it needs for nuclear weapons.”
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