Australia Condemns the Tail, Ignores the Head |
Australia’s foreign policy language becomes noticeably sharper when directed at Israel and noticeably softer when the subject turns to Iran.
When Israel strikes militants in Gaza, Foreign Minister Penny Wong is swift to condemn. But when the conversation shifts to the regime that funds, arms, and coordinates many of those same militants, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Canberra’s tone suddenly becomes cautious, diplomatic, and restrained.
That imbalance would be curious in any conflict. In this one, it is strategically backwards.
Because the war Israel is fighting is not simply against a local militant group in Gaza. It is a confrontation with a regional network built in Tehran and sustained through proxy organisations designed to surround Israel and attack it indirectly.
Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen and other militias across the region are not isolated actors. They are part of a long-developed Iranian strategy: arm non-state groups, encourage attacks on Israel, and avoid direct accountability while doing so.
Yet when Israel responded militarily to the October 7 attacks, the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, Wong’s public commentary focused overwhelmingly on condemning Israel’s conduct rather than confronting the strategic structure behind the war.
That distinction matters. Israel is responding to attacks, but the real driver of the conflict, the “head of the snake” sits in Tehran. Focusing criticism almost exclusively on Israel risks condemning the tail while ignoring the head.
In discussing civilian casualties, another factor is frequently overlooked in political commentary: the unprecedented measures Israel has taken to warn civilians before strikes. Israeli forces have repeatedly issued evacuation warnings through SMS messages, phone calls, leaflets, and “roof-knock” alerts before attacks on militant infrastructure. This is stark contrast to attacks on Israel which target civilians.
These warnings often come at a real tactical cost. By alerting civilians in advance, Israel can also alert militants, giving them time to flee or reposition and potentially increasing the danger to Israeli soldiers operating on the ground.
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