The Australian government has dismissed claims that Israel’s intervention prompted the country’s decision to expel Iran’s ambassador to Canberra.
Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke described the claim as “complete nonsense” when asked about Israel’s assertion that its government had played a role in Australia’s decision to order Tehran’s ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, to leave the country.
The controversy arose after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia had reached “the deeply disturbing conclusion” through “credible intelligence” that Iran’s government had “directed” at least two attacks against Australia’s Jewish community.
Albanese’s announcement came days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused him of being “a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews”.
Netanyahu’s comments were made after Albanese announced Australia would move to formally recognize a Palestinian state in September.
The Israeli government spokesperson, David Mencer, claimed that Netanyahu’s “forthright intervention” had spurred Albanese to take action against Iran.
However, Burke emphasized that Australia’s decision was based on its own assessment of the situation and not influenced by external factors.
Iran has rejected Australia’s accusations, stating that they are “absolutely rejected” and that the claims came after Australia had directed “limited criticism” at Israel.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, warned of reciprocal action, stating that “any inappropriate and unjustified action on a diplomatic level will have a reciprocal reaction”.
The tension between Australia and Iran escalated further after the Jewish Council of Australia expressed shock and concern over the Iranian government’s involvement in coordinating antisemitic attacks.
The council called for caution and restraint in politicizing the attacks, which could further harm the Jewish community.
The expulsion of the Iranian ambassador is part of a broader response by the Australian government to address perceived threats to its Jewish community.
Prime Minister Albanese announced that Australia would also designate the IRGC as a “terrorist organization” in response to the alleged Iranian involvement in the attacks.
The move has been met with strong reactions from both Israel and Iran, highlighting the complex and sensitive nature of international diplomacy.
The situation has sparked widespread debate and discussion, with many Australians expressing concern about the safety and security of their Jewish community.
The Australian government’s decision to expel the Iranian ambassador and designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization demonstrates its commitment to protecting its citizens and addressing perceived threats.
However, the controversy surrounding Israel’s alleged intervention highlights the complexities and challenges of international relations, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.