Israeli ambassador says it’s ‘mind-boggling’ to question legal basis for war on Iran
Updated ,first published
Israel’s new ambassador to Australia said it was mind-boggling that anyone would question the legality of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, as he called on the Albanian government not to call for a ceasefire before the war’s objectives are achieved.
Hillel Newman, who came to Australia last week, said that if Israel and the United States eliminate Iran’s capacity to produce nuclear weapons and fire ballistic missiles, the war could end in less than the four to five weeks predicted by US President Donald Trump.
“Once we feel like we’ve done that, it’s over for us,” he said.
“If no one else enters the conflict, it must end as soon as possible.”
Newman said Israel will celebrate regime change in Iran, but that is not the main purpose of the war.
The vast majority of international law experts argued that the initial attacks on Iran were illegal because there was no possibility of an attack from Iran and they were not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.
Asked to respond, Newman said: “I can tell them this: It’s mind-boggling… Israel has been under attack for decades. Hamas and Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel; people in Israel had 15 seconds to run to a bomb shelter or their lives were in danger.”
He continued: “Imagine Australia being under attack and an organization launching rockets against Australia. Who would question the right to defend against such a rogue entity?”
For decades, Iran has been financing militant groups that launch rocket attacks on Israel, such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
Newman called the attacks “an act of self-defense” aimed at eliminating “imminent threats” from Iran.
He claimed that Israel knew from intelligence sources that Iran planned to “race towards nuclear military capability and then hide it underground enough to be immune to future attacks.”
He said this explains the “urgency and time sensitivity of this attack.”
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said this week that “there is no evidence that Iran has built a nuclear bomb,” but added that inspectors were concerned about a lack of access to its vast stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium.
A. UN group of human rights expertsDescribing the US-Israeli attacks this week as “illegal” and “unprovoked”, including University of Sydney professor Ben Saul, he said: “We cannot choose when international law applies.”
Asked about the various justifications given for the war – including by US President Donald Trump – Newman said: “Perhaps our public relations are not as good as they should be… I agree that perhaps our public relations are not perfect. We need to improve.”
He said Australia had positioned itself on the “right side of history” by quickly supporting the strikes and declaring that Iran should not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. The Albanian government has since stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, while calling for a reduction in hostilities.
“I can tell everyone: weigh [your decision] Be careful because a premature ceasefire will undermine efforts and undermine goals and achievements,” Newman said.
“If you support the objectives of the war, it is necessary to support the legitimacy of the operation until the objectives are achieved.”
Newman previously served as Israel’s consul general in Los Angeles and ambassador to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
He replaces Amir Maimon, who extended his term following the terrorist attack at the Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach and Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia.
Newman described Australia as Israel’s “natural ally” and said he hoped the nations could improve relations after years of acrimony sparked by the war in Gaza, the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and Australia’s recognition of the Palestinian state.
Newman said that he expected Iran to react after the attacks, but was surprised that it attacked even countries with which it had previously had friendly relations.
Israel also launched a devastating offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, ordering civilians to leave Beirut’s southern suburbs and recruiting troops for a possible ground attack.
Following attacks on Iran, Hezbollah fired three rockets at Israel, but they were intercepted by Israeli air defenses or crashed in an open field.
Asked whether Israel’s response was disproportionate, he said: “The launch of any missile is unacceptable… We have no problem with Lebanon at the moment, but they attacked, so we have to respond.”
He said the aim of the attacks against Hezbollah was to create a buffer zone so that residents in northern Israel could return to their homes without fear of rocket attacks.
According to Lebanese officials, 77 people have died in Lebanon since the resumption of hostilities.
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