Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has booted an Israeli diplomat — widely suspected to be Mossad’s man in Canberra — out of Australia for their connection to the use of Australian passports in the murder of a senior Hamas leader earlier this year.
Israel itself is playing it cool, but the local Jewish lobby is likely to be less impressed. Never short on opinions and soapboxes, expect to hear more from them today and this week.
Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop has already started fueling the debate, accusing the Government of trying to “curry favour within the Arab community” to secure a seat on the UN Security Council. This is the same Julie Bishop who criticised Smith for allowing Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer into the country last year because it might anger China. An anonymous AAP report today suggests the Government hasn’t forgotten this either, and predicts Smith and co will use it to deflect and distract any further criticism over the incident.
Stay tuned for more coverage and analysis in today’s Crikey Daily Mail.
In the meantime, here’s the first batch of op-eds on the issue from the country’s pundits. Expect many, many more — both here and abroad.
The Australian
Alan Gold: Smith went too far by expelling Israeli diplomat
A diplomatic slap on the wrist was called for. The expulsion of a diplomat is an over-reaction that will do neither country any good.
Greg Sheridan: Badly misjudged action will have a political cost
Well-informed sources tell me that Australian agencies have used foreign passports. … in the grey world of espionage many things happen which good friends do not use to embarrass each other.
Sydney Morning Herald
Editorial: No passports for murder
Dubai was a repeat offence. The rebuke has correctly been stepped up.
The Age
Michelle Grattan: Epulsion right, but risky
If accusations of political motives are flying, the opposition is as vulnerable as it claims the government is.
Mark Davis: With sorrow and regret, Smith declares cooling-off period with Israel
… a sign that the relationship between the two countries has been seriously damaged by the incident.
Herald Sun
Staff writer: With friends like this…
Mr Smith’s words need to carry more chill
Elsewhere…
Antony Lowenstein: Why it’s now time for Australians to start asking what Israel is doing in our country
how many journalists are asking what the hell these Mossad agents are doing here? Spying? Co-ordinating intelligence? Shopping for red roses?
Larvatus Prodeo, Robert Merkel: Hey everybody, look over there
I wonder whether the timing of the announcement about expelling some low-ranking Israeli diplomat had anything to do with tonight’s Four Corners report…
FMD. The Isrealies were caught red handed forging passports and stealing the identities of Australians which were then used to carry out an assasination in a third country, yet the opposition has the gall to criticise the governments actions.
Whose side are they on?
While i agree the Israeli forging of passports was wrong KRudd has managed to get himself offside with India, China and Singapore (how can you upset anyone in Singapore?) and now Israel. All this in less than 3 years in the job, marvellous effort that!
Spot on John. The issue isn’t so much the expelling of the Israeli diplomat, it’s how a former diplomat such as Rudd can be making so many enemies amongst his peers – and this from a bloke who sees himself as the head of the UN one day!
The UK, Australia and other countries are unhappy with Israel conducting assasinations but they were happy to start wars that killed hundreds of thousands of people.
The UK, Australia and other countries are unhappy with Israel forging a Passport but they are were happy to forge (or accept the forgery of) evidence of WMD and the manipulation of the UN Security Council.
This is not said to defend any nation that breaks international laws of war, peace or diplomacy.
But I do think we can ask for some admissions of fault and inconsistency when belligerent nations call, as they should, for other nations to respect international law.
I saw the possibility of using passports so blatantly as most *UN-INTEL* – specially for Israeli intelligence. However, one must consider that Israeli’s cannot use their own passports to take out Islamist wanna-be Holocaustians: 57 Islamic states, who have gotten almost all their states and Monarchs illegally – bar Jews from entry – while also attacking Israel for OCCUPYING 12% of the land allocated her in the Balfour declaration [80% went to illegal Jordan; 8% to illegal west bank and Gaza]. What’s for deserts – Aussie silence?
That Australia is isolated from the issues facing Israel is hardly a matter of merit – specially when Australia pretends about the climate pollution and chases whale ships – but is blissfully dis-concerned with serial genocide against Jews at the UN Madarassa. Someone should tell Australis – first negate the 75 reasons why you can’t solve your water problems – even being surrounded by H2O, and discuss the climate when your population is 700 Million. People will listen?
If Australia had balls – she would cease performing Heil Hitler salutes at the UN along with the EU & Islamic league , and demand the restoration of the Balfour. Hey – taking out 80% of a tiny land and calling it a “2-STATE COMPROMISE’ [that British term used here!] is as un-christian as it can get – and as Nazi porn as it was and is. Then calling a 3-state as a 2-state today affirms the agenda: aside from being attrocious aritehmetics.
If the truth can set you free:
JEWS HAVE NEVER STOLEN ANYONE’S LAND IN ALL THEIR 4000 YEAR HISTORY.
The fundamental things apply, Mr. Rudd. Hope your dreams of being a UN President happens – but not at the cost of Judging Israel and remaining silent of Hamas for 10 years. No sir!