‘Humiliating': Former foreign minister Alexander Downer tears apart Albanese government's stance on Israel and Iran conflict
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer has slammed the Albanese government's response regarding the escalating situation in the Middle East, calling the stance taken towards Iran and Israel 'embarrassing'.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong previously called for 'de-escalation' after Iranian military and nuclear targets were struck last week, with her remarks being echoed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles.
Ms Wong has since changed her tone regarding the conflict and has urged Iran to discontinue its nuclear ambitions.
Mr Downer called the Albanese government's position on the crisis, as well as other issues in the Middle East, 'just an embarrassment'.
Speaking to Sky News Host Chris Kenny on Thursday, the former foreign minister blasted the government over language used, taking particular aim at the 'de-escalation' calls.
'They're humiliating our country with these sorts of words. Of course, de-escalation isn't the solution. The solution is to destroy any capacity Iran has to launch nuclear missiles at Israel,' Mr Downer said.
'... De-escalation is utterly meaningless, utterly meaningless. And by saying things like that, the Australian government is making itself a laughing stock in Jerusalem, and nobody in Tehran cares what they say either. Australia is playing itself into a position of complete international irrelevance by saying these sorts of things.'
He called for a clearer stance to be taken toward the conflict and for Australia's official position on Iran's nuclear program to be less ambiguous.
'Instead of berating the Israelis and demanding they agree to a two-state solution, berate the Iranians and demand that they accept Israel's right to exist,' Mr Downer said.
Meanwhile, Israel's Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said he has not directly asked the Australian government to overtly back Israel's actions in the conflict.
'We are not waiting for the international community to support Israel. We decided to launch the pre-emptive attack as Iran poses an immediate and imminent existential threat,' Mr Maimon told Sky News Host Chris Kenny on Thursday evening.
The ambassador said in a media briefing earlier on Thursday that 'hiccups' had occurred in the relationship between Australia and the Jewish state.
'It is true that since May 2022, we see a shift in some Israeli-related policies,' Mr Maimon said, regarding the Albanese government's stance to Israel.
'We still consider Australia as a friendly country. There are hiccups in our relationship. It's only normal. I think that it's true about every country.
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All foreign affairs staff and their dependents in the Iranian capital have been told to leave "based on advice about the deteriorating security environment". The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran. "We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe," Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday. "Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place. "We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries." Overnight Mr Trump, who has kept the world guessing about whether the US might join the war on Israel's side, said he would make a decision within the next two weeks. 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All foreign affairs staff and their dependents in the Iranian capital have been told to leave "based on advice about the deteriorating security environment". The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran. "We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe," Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday. "Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place. "We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries." Overnight Mr Trump, who has kept the world guessing about whether the US might join the war on Israel's side, said he would make a decision within the next two weeks. 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There are now more than 2000 Australians who have registered for assistance to leave Iran, up from 1500 on Thursday. "It's a difficult, hard situation, the airspace is still closed," Health Minister Mark Butler told Seven's Sunrise program on Friday. "We'll be exploring every opportunity we can to support people getting out in other ways." The government has already helped Australians flee Israel using a border crossing to Jordan, and some of those people only got 55 minutes to get moving. "When the opportunity arises to get people out, we take that opportunity," Mr Butler said. There are still more than 1200 Australians registered for assistance to depart Israel, where the airspace is also closed. with Reuters
