‘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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
‘Topsy-turvy': Victorians are used to their government ‘siding with criminals'
Victoria Shadow Treasurer James Newbury says Victorians are used to their government siding with criminals. 'When you're a Victorian, the sad thing is you're used to this government siding with criminals,' Mr Newbury told Sky News host Steve Price. 'When you live in Victoria, it's topsy-turvy.'
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Victoria put on ‘credit-rating watch' amid Treasurer Jaclyn Symes's economic mismanagement
Victoria Shadow Treasurer James Newbury discusses lawyer and Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes's New York visit amid Victoria's growing economic debt. 'The credit rating agencies contradicted everything she said, they said there are fundamental issues which we know, with the government's mismanagement,' Mr Newbury told Sky News host Steve Price. 'The fact that they've put us on a credit-rating watch tells us why we have the worst credit rating in the country.'
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
‘Draconian' Victorian Government imposes hefty fine for farmers
Victoria Shadow Treasurer James Newbury says the Victorian Government is telling farmers they will be fined $12,210 if they block transmission companies land access. 'It's shocking and they're doing this not just to regional Victoria, but also in the city,' Mr Newbury told Sky News host Steve Price. 'The government is taking over planning controls … now saying to farmers we're going to come along with a massive stick if you say no. 'What the government's doing is draconian.'
