Are the participants in this flotilla criminals and enemies of Israel? Yes. Are some of them associated with ISIS? Yes. Should we shed a single tear for them? Absolutely not. Is the international community hypocritical? Of course it is. And were the embassies that summoned Israel’s ambassadors today the truest friends to begin with? No.
But despite all of that, what Itamar Ben-Gvir did is a complete scandal—for three distinct reasons.
First, it brazenly ignores established government policy. A decision was already made to deport the participants. Whether you agree with that directive or not, it is the policy. When a minister goes rogue and takes over an issue like this, it immediately raises the suspicion of a cheap political ploy.
Second, it’s like Israel's notoriously malfunctioning weapon from the Independence War, the Davidka: all noise, no payload. In practice, nothing happens. It is exactly like the push for the death penalty for terrorists—a law that will likely never execute a single person, but guarantees Israel will absorb maximum diplomatic damage and terrible headlines.
Third, it actively sabotages tremendous, ongoing diplomatic efforts. Today, for example, Israel secured a significant achievement when the Czech Republic agreed to veto EU sanctions in Hungary’s place. Why volunteer to make our diplomatic corps' job harder? Just as the situation was naturally defusing, Ben-Gvir dragged the world’s glare right back here.
To the international observer, no one sees that the detainees aren't innocent. They just see a vulgar politician—who already has an international arrest warrant looming over him in The Hague—yelling at captive detainees, drawing grim parallels to the mistreatment of illegal immigrants at the US-Mexico border.
I wish I could say it was an unfortunate mistake. But it was entirely by design.
I used to consider myself a moderate supporter of Israel.
But not anymore.
I started listening to those who bring constant criticisms against Israel, and the more I listened and researched, the more I started to recognize a pattern.
Some of the criticism was factual and necessary. But much of it was based on exaggeration or untruths.
Even the most famous viral photo of the emaciated child in Gaza...the media quietly later admitted to be based on false information.
I kept listening, thinking, "If they are so passionately against Israel, they must know something I don't."
Then, it finally hit me. The thread tying it all together was not a love for people or the truth, but rather a deep seeded hatred of Israel.
So, now I'm not as moderate as I used to be. Those speaking the loudest against Israel have caused me to be more extreme in my support for Israel. Not because Israel is perfect, but because of justice. From what I can see, they get more unjustly attacked than any culture or nation alive today.
With that being said, I am also a supporter of truth and justice for all people and nations. Whatever level of injustice is being done against Palestinian civilians, I want it to stop. But whatever injustice is being done against the Jews, I want it to stop too.
Truly loving people does not mean picking and choosing who we love. It means letting go of our hatred and offense and being willing to lay our own lives down for the sake of others.
@DavidShoebridge You didn’t think to host an emergency Greens webinar about Hezbollah firing indiscriminately at Israeli civilians, buckling to Iranian pressure and dragging Lebanon into war?
All they had to do was not fire.
Wondering how Hamas is feeling watching their mum (Qatar) and dad (Iran) throw plates at each other.
They say the child should never blame themselves, but.... #Oct7
Hamas leaders, on October 7th, 2023, celebrated in Qatar while watching Hamas massacre 1,200 Israelis.
2.5 years later, most of them are dead, Gaza is in ruins, Hamas is destroyed, and Israel is stronger than ever.
Never forget how it all started.
So far, 63% of all Iranian missile attacks have targeted the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE’s success rate since this morning: 100 interceptions out of 100 launches—100% success.
🇦🇪
Iran is now past the point of no return. It has never been more isolated.
It turned every Gulf country, Qatar included, against it.
No air force, no navy, no friends, just a bunch of missiles that can only harass and annoy with 0 strategic impact.
I give this regime 30 days
My parents fled Iran after the 1979 Revolution to seek a better life.
They had me and my brother in Spain. We’re now proud American citizens. We have a lot of family in Iran.
Yesterday was my mom’s birthday. I can assure you this is the best gift she could have ever received.
That the Greens oppose the United States and Israel ending a regime that brutally subjugates women, murders homosexuals, and exports terrorism tells you everything about their priorities.
So let me get this straight. You support the Khamanei regime that killed 38,000+ protesters and maimed hundreds of thousands more. A regime that has repeatedly called for Death to America and has killed thousands of our servicemen and citizens. One that has taken away women’s rights and freedoms for the Iranian people.
And then you call our efforts to destroy the evildoers a catastrophic escalation.
You also support those who attack our police force. You take the side of the criminals rather than the victims of violent actors in our city.
How is it that you can’t differentiate between good and evil?
Why is this so hard for you?
Millions of Iranians are hoping, for the first time in decades, to be free of a brutal Islamist ayatollah regime. If you think the villains here are the US and Israel, that tells us everything we need to know about your warped sense of reality.
Can you imagine how the Iranian people are feeling, surrounded by the fire power of the mightiest war machine in the world with its lunatic President telling them to stay safe inside their homes while he bombs them and that those who survive will celebrate a regime controlled by the US and subservient to Israel? War on the pretext Iran must not have a nuclear bomb. This is an attempt at a deception NO-ONE is going to buy. This is an illegal, criminal and unnecessary war. First, a historic city, Gaza is destroyed by Israel, now this. I’d say most people in the world would be standing with Iran.
Optimism in Israel regarding the chances of success of the massive assassination operation against the leadership.
As is known, Israel has already declared Khamenei a marked man and almost (by mistake) killed President Pashkazian during Operation Rising Lion.
Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression.
For decades, the Iranian regime has been a destabilising force, through its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, support for armed proxies, and brutal acts of violence and intimidation.
Iran directed at least two attacks on Australian soil in 2024. These appalling acts targeting Australia’s Jewish community were intended to create fear, divide our society and challenge our sovereignty. In response, Australia took the unprecedented steps of expelling Iran’s Ambassador, suspending operations at our embassy in Tehran, and listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Our Government has sanctioned more than 200 Iranian-linked individuals, including more than 100 linked to the IRGC.
With international partners, including the United States and the G7, we have called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens.
These calls have gone unheeded. Instead, the regime has instigated a brutal crackdown on its own people leaving thousands of Iranian civilians dead. A regime that relies on the repression and murder of its own people to retain power is without legitimacy.
It has long been recognised that Iran’s nuclear program is a threat to global peace and security. The international community has been clear that the Iranian regime can never beallowed to develop a nuclear weapon. The United Nations Security Council has reimposed sanctions on Iran for failing to comply with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the International Atomic Energy Agency Board has formally declared Iran in non-compliance with its non-proliferation safeguards obligations.
We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security.
Australian officials are closely monitoring this evolving situation. We continue
to advise Australians do not travel to Iran and leave Iran as soon as possible, if it is safe to do so. Our ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is extremely limited.
Given our concerns around security in the region, we have also upgraded Australia’s travel advice for Israel and Lebanon to Do Not Travel. Australians should leave now if it is safe to do so.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has activated its Crisis Centre to provide consular support to Australians in the region.
Australians requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the Consular Emergency Centre 24/7 on 1300 555 135 in Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 from outside Australia.
The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomes the joint Israeli and United States operation aimed at ending the tyranny of the Ayatollah regime and standing with the Iranian people in their long struggle for freedom and dignity.
For decades, this regime has oppressed its own citizens while exporting violence far beyond its borders. Through the funding of terror proxies, violent extremism and the pursuit of nuclear weapons, it has destabilised the Middle East and threatened global security. Its reach has not spared Australia, targeting our own Jewish community in an attempt to spread fear and division.
The people of Iran deserve a future free from oppression. We hope current developments bring a swift and peaceful outcome that opens the path to a free Iran and a more stable and hopeful Middle East.
We stand in solidarity with all those seeking liberty, and in hope for a future defined by peace, security and coexistence across our region.
By leading a chant of “All Zionists are terrorists”, Melbourne Palestinian activist Hash Tayeh incited hatred against Jews among his fellow protesters, VCAT has found. https://t.co/oyTEosjz9w
Arnold’s 15-year-old daughter was brutally murdered during an Intifada uprising 25 years ago. I met Arnold. I regularly ate at the Pizzeria where Malki was murdered. Now, radicals like Grace “Australian of the Year” Tame, are calling to bring Intifada inside our own border. What a disgrace.