Australia’s failure to sanction Israel a diplomatic and moral abdication

By refusing to sanction Israel, Vince Hooper reveals a double standard who threatens his claim to moral leadership in the world stage.

As the human disaster in Gaza worsens, Australia’s refusal to impose sanctions on Israel draws international and internal examination not only for what it implies, but also for what it weakens: our reliability as a principled medium power.

Australia was once proud to be a global advocate for human rights. After the occupation of Ukraine, we approved Russia with vitality. We condemned the Cunta of Myanmar. We had an apartheid vocal. And nevertheless, the Albanian government offers a little more than rhetorical concern in the face of reliable allegations about war crimes, collective punishment and random attacks in Gaza. From where?

Reliability gap

Prime minister Anthony Arbanese have to have claimed Australia will maintain its own foreign policy approach, and despite the calls of allies such as Britain, France and Canada, it will refrain from approved the sanctions on Israel about its actions in Gaza. These countries are already imposed or signaling Sanctions targeted in response to the basic aid blockade that continues to Gaza, which triggers a serious human crisis of Israel.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong Australia not “Speculation about sanctions”.

Still, this hasn’t stopped us before. Apparently the real reason lies in the management of political conformity and alliance. However, such selective morality is eroding our international stance. If Australia claims to support a rules based international order, we should support it even if it is disturbing even if it is related to our allies.

There is an increasing perception that Australia’s foreign policy is not guided by ethics, which countries we can afford to criticize. This double standard is now not lost in developing countries that completely question the legitimacy of Western human rights discourse.

Domestic Edition, Diaspora Facts

Australia’s internal political account cannot be ignored. Jewish and Palestinian diasporas affect social, economic and election. The equality of the government reflects the attempt to soothe both, but satisfies both. In fact, it reduces a moral crisis to a political balancing action.

Conclusion? At home rising polarization and a growing generation of crevices. Young Australians, especially students do not buy the government’s “neutrality”. Mass protests, sitting and petitions underlines the expansion gap between government policy and public conscience.

Complexity through trade and weapons

Australia exports military and double -use technology to Israel. Although it is small in terms of dollar, this export is symbolic and legally important. Under Arms trade treaty And if there is a significant risk that our national guidelines can be used to make serious human rights violations, such exports should not occur.

While Australia cannot suspend this exports, it is not only morally, but potentially risky according to international law. When future legal proceedings examine the Gaza conflict, Canberra can find itself on the wrong side of history and case -law.

AUKUS, USA and strategic cowardice

Some argue that standing in Israel can endanger our strategic relationship with the US. This is a wrong duo. Ireland, Spain, and now other US allies, such as Canada and England, took principled stances without interrupting the ties with Washington.

Are we really so diplomatically fragile so that we should use our moral compass to the Pentagon?

Australia should resist the use of the US foreign policy in the global South as an assistant sheriff, especially when it contradicts our values.

There are alternatives

Even if full sanctions are not politically possible, there are meaningful medium ground measures:

• suspending military cooperation or intelligence sharing;
• International investigations support the public (like International Criminal Court And International Court of Justice cases);
• As for our allies, impose visa bans targeted to known human rights abusers; And
• Increase aid to the United Nations Help and Labor Agency (Unwa) and push more powerfully for human -free human corridors.

These are not radical demands, but the expected minimum of a nation that advocates human rights and the international order based on rules.

A turning point for Australia’s moral identity

Australia’s current inertia is not neutral. This is an expression of guilt. It shows that our principles are for sale to the world and that the victims of one conflict are more important than the other.

For a nation that seeks an effect in Asia and Pacific, where the memories of the colonial reciprocity are still deep, this hypocrisy can be at a high cost. Now it’s time to act as geopolitical, moral and diplomatic.

If Australia wants to be taken seriously as a global citizen, even if it is inappropriate, it should match its words with action starting from accountability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zrszg-_ffm

Vince Hooper is a proud Australian/British citizen who is a finance and disciplinary professor at the SP Jain Global Management School with campuses in London, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney.

Support independent journalism subscribe to IA.

Related articles