Israel’s Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman defends Iran war as ‘defining test’ for Western democracies
Israel envoy says the conflict will test democracies worldwide — with global security and energy supplies on the line.
Israel’s ambassador to Australia has declared the war with Iran is a defining test for democracies worldwide, claiming the conflict is already reshaping global security, but insists efforts are underway to ensure the energy crisis is temporary and minimal.
Addressing the National Press Club, Hillel Newman said his nation’s campaign alongside the United States would only end once the “existential threats” posed by the Iranian regime are removed.
The diplomat also defended his country’s right to use capital punishment, after Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s criticism of laws passed overnight approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Israel is on the front due to its location, but this struggle is not Israel’s alone. It is shared by all countries that uphold democratic Western values, including Australia,” the Ambassador said.
His remarks come as the Middle East conflict continues to drive soaring oil prices and economic uncertainty across the world, and as the Australian government increases its criticism of US President Donald Trump’s handling of the attacks on Iran.
“The responsibility for the disruption of gas and oil supplies lies 100 per cent with Iran and its proxies,” the Ambassador claimed as he blamed the regime in Tehran for threats to the Strait of Hormuz and attacks carried out via proxy groups.
He also described Iran as a “regional and global threat”, pointing to its support for groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, and again rejected accusations that Israel was carrying out genocide with its war in Gaza.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong told Labor’s caucus that Australia opposes the death penalty “in all instances”, after Israel passed laws that made the default punishment for a Palestinian convicted of murdering an Israeli death by hanging.
An earlier joint statement signed by Australia, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom stated that “the adoption of this bill would risk undermining Israel’s commitments with regards to democratic principles”.
Responding to the comments, the Ambassador said statements made by allies and like-minded countries were “taken seriously”, but said his country was situated in a “difficult neighbourhood” and “far-away countries” don’t always appreciate the threat.
Israel’s newly arrived diplomat also declined to directly apologise to the family of Zomi Frankcom who was killed in a drone strike two years ago, as her relatives push for the Israeli investigation into the soldiers involved to be resolved.
Her brother Mal met with Anthony Albanese in Parliament House on the eve of the two-year anniversary of her death, to urge the prime minister to pressure Israel’s military advocate-general to complete its probe into the killing of Frankcom and her colleagues.
Under sustained questioning over the killing of journalists, including a recent deadly attack in southern Lebanon, he insisted Israel “has never targeted a journalist just for being a journalist”.
The strike killed Ali Shoaib of Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV, Fatima Ftouni and her brother Mohammad Ftouni from Al Mayadeen, but Mr Newman said two of the men were members of Hezbollah.
“They were members of what is called the Radwan forces of Hezbollah. The third one, we’re not sure about… we assume that because he was with the two, he was also a terrorist with them.”
Challenged on whether Israel shared any responsibility with the United States for the way in which the Iran war had worsened, Newman insisted Israel had not dragged President Trump into the conflict.
He said it was not possible to predict how long the war would continue but said both allies hoped to finish the operation “as soon as possible” once their objectives had been achieved and were working to keep oil disruptions minimal.
“Many methods of being engaged in order to try and bring the disruption to a minimum, including, for instance, opening Iraq, export from Iraq, even opening export of oil from Iran. So many methods are being implemented.”
