Labor pain
One, Israel is strong. Barring the failures that led up to October 7, its intelligence is second to none. And Israel will take care of business.
Israel’s triumphant operation last Friday that eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah proved two things.
One, Israel is strong. Barring the failures that led up to October 7, its intelligence is second to none. And Israel will take care of business.
Two, Australian foreign policy under the current Labor government, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have nothing positive to contribute towards peace and security on the Middle East.
Wong stood by for 11 months while Hezbollah fired rockets and drones at northern Israel, displacing tens of thousands. It was only when Israel escalated its response that she waded in, and rather than support Israel in its defensive actions, called for a ceasefire, which would leave Hezbollah intact.
The Middle East and the world are safer places because Israel ignored Wong.
As for Wong’s UN General Assembly speech, in which she demanded the international community set a timeline to recognise a Palestinian state, it is no longer possible to say there is bipartisanship in Australian politics when it comes to Israel.
Labor talks the talk but twists itself into contradictions. The Albanese government’s foreign policy positions and statements are clearly not aimed at improving anything in the Middle East but all about appealing to certain sections of the electorate back home.
Wong condemned Hamas for October 7 but lashed Israel for defending itself, citing civilian deaths while ignoring that the terror group uses them as human shields to maximise innocent casualties.
She bemoaned that the UN partition plan has not been realised but ignored its rejection by the Arab states and Israel’s many offers – all rejected – that would have seen a Palestinian state created.
Wong claimed imposing a solution that gives the intransigent Palestinian Authority all it wants without the need for compromise and that rewards Hamas for October 7 will bring peace when it will do the opposite.
And her speech did not even mention Hezbollah.
As we mark Rosh Hashanah this year, we pray that Hashem will judge us fairly during these upcoming days of awe.
But we have no doubt history will judge Penny Wong and this Labor government harshly for abandoning its democratic ally so callously as it fights for its existence on several fronts.
We wish all our readers Shana Tova u’metuka.
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