Israel's New Ambassador Challenges UN, Defends Strikes
Hillel Newman, Israel's new ambassador to Australia, made strong statements regarding the United Nations (UN) upon his recent arrival in Canberra.
He asserted that the United Nations (UN) is a politicized body that Israel cannot take seriously, stating it has "nothing to do with justice" or "peace and security".
Defense of US-Israeli Air Strikes
Mr. Newman also defended the recent US-Israeli air strikes. He asserted that Iran has attacked Israel for decades through proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. He highlighted that Israeli families have faced rocket attacks from these groups, which he identified as Iranian proxies, necessitating quick shelter.
International Legal Scrutiny
In contrast to Mr. Newman's defense, legal and human rights organizations have criticized the joint military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Ben Saul, UN special rapporteur on human rights and counter terrorism, indicated that international lawyers are in agreement that the attacks violated international law.
Government Response and Strike Rationale
The Albanese government has avoided direct questions regarding the legality of these strikes, though it has expressed support for efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Israel had previously described the strikes as "pre-emptive" actions to eliminate threats. Former US President Donald Trump had stated the attacks aimed to end Iran's nuclear weapons program and promote regime change.
Disputed Targeting Claims
Mr. Newman maintained that the US and Israeli attacks specifically targeted military facilities. He questioned Iranian claims that a strike had hit a girls' school, resulting in 165 casualties. The UN has characterized such a strike as a "grave violation of humanitarian law".
The ambassador stated that Israeli intelligence suggested the alleged school was not operational and was instead being used by members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He advised caution regarding information from Iran but conceded that the claims "need to be checked," acknowledging that "when you have a war, there can be mistakes." Mr. Newman expressed doubt that the location was a school with children, citing a lack of confirming information.