EDITORIAL: Iran attacks must open eyes of pro-Palestine lobby
So now the truth is out there.
Too often the real nature of the Iranian regime has been left unexposed even as it spewed its hateful campaign which has as its end goal the obliteration of Israel.
That has meant that many of the pro-Palestinian advocates in this country have failed — or naively ignored — the evil lurking behind and yet driving the movement whose slogans they so blindly parrot.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In one disturbing reminder of that danger it should be remembered that earlier this month an image of the Iranian leader holding a rifle was held aloft during the pro-Palestinian demonstration on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s stated goal is the destruction of the Jewish state, and Iran funds and supports several military terrorist groups in the region surrounding Israel, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza. Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, triggered the Gaza war.
On Tuesday it was revealed that Iran was behind at least two anti-Semitic attacks on Australian soil.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that he was briefed by the nation’s security service ASIO and Australian Federal Police, of “credible intelligence” linking Iran to attacks in Australia.
It included using proxies to firebomb Melbourne’s Adass Synagogue in December and start a fire at Sydney’s Lewis’ Continental Kitchen in October.
The revelations prompted Mr Albanese to expel Iran’s Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi, recall Australian diplomats and list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.
The move made Mr Sadeghi the first ambassador to be booted from Australia since World War II.
His expulsion followed a string of controversies since he took on the role in Canberra in mid-2023. His history includes social media posts containing genocidal comments — including calling “to put an end” to Israel and advocating that “wiping out the Zionist plague out of the holy lands of Palestine happens no later than 2027”.
Today Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash claimed the Coalition demanded action on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation two-and-a-half years ago. She referred to a Senate inquiry into IRGC that recommended in February 2023 it be added to the terror list.
Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke said authorities suspected “many more” attacks on the Jewish community were orchestrated by Iran, adding that anti-Semitism was still a threat in Australia.
The challenge now is to make sure that this time we are ahead of the game and to work on repairing the fraying bonds of social cohesion.
This includes reminding those who had the chance to make their views heard on the day of the bridge protest that it was a privilege — which is also available in the Middle East’s only democracy, Israel — that would not be available in Iran or under it’s world view.
