U.S. allies’ fear of backing the genocide charge against Israel reaches all the way to Australia, reports Kellie Tranter.
South Africa’s representatives on top left, Israel’s on right; 15 judges in foreground during Jan. 11 public hearings of genocide charges against Israel at the World Court in The Hague. (International Court of Justice)
By Kellie Tranter
Declassified Australia
Australia has finally made clear its official position on the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a radio interview on Monday ruled out Australia as a participant in the ICJ process, saying: “We need to have a pathway to security and peace…Not any court case.”
While the government may nominally support a peace in Gaza, it’s not so far been backed by substantial actions. And statements from the leadership provide little confidence in their stance.
Infamously, in October, Foreign Minister Penny Wong declined to condemn from afar Israel’s order for a “total siege” and to cut food and water supplies from Gaza. Wong said: “I think it’s always very difficult from over here, to make judgements about what security approach other countries take.”
The government of South Africa’s 84-page application to the World Court — titled, “Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)” — includes nine pages of evidence of genocidal intent, including statements from Israeli decision makers and military officials.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) previously said that, “it was aware of the proceedings but that it was not appropriate to comment on matters before the court.”
This stands in stark contrast to another recent analogous Australian government stance. In September 2023, Australia joined with 31 other countries intervening before the ICJ in support of Ukraine’s case alleging Russia had violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
At this point, however, the Australian government hasn’t taken its usual course to join in the statements of the United Kingdom and United States about the lack of merit of the proceedings. But the pressure on Australia has been considerable.
Israel’s Urgent Cable
A recently leaked “urgent” cable from the Israeli Foreign Ministry has confirmed it has instructed its embassies worldwide, including the Israeli Embassy in Canberra, to press diplomats and politicians in their host countries to issue statements against South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice.
[See: Israel Worried Ahead of World Court Genocide Hearings]
The Jan. 4 cable states that Israel’s “strategic goal” is for the ICJ to reject the request for an injunction, refrain from determining that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and recognize that the Israeli military is operating in the Strip according to international law.
Israel’s embassy in Canberra — barricaded, walled, watched and watching.(Kgbo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Foreign Ministry instructed the Israeli embassy in Canberra, and other capitals, to ask diplomats and politicians at the highest level “to publicly acknowledge that Israel is working to increase the humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as to minimize damage to civilians, while acting in self defense after the horrible October 7th attack by a genocidal terrorist organization.”
The embassy cable even dictates the possible words for a public statement from the Canberra government:
“We ask for an immediate and unequivocal public statement along the following lines: To publicly and clearly state that YOUR COUNTRY rejects the outrageous, absurd and baseless allegations made against Israel.”
Declassified Australia has attempted to clarify Australia’s position by specifically asking the Department of Foreign Affairs for the government’s position in relation to rulings of the ICJ being binding.
On Saturday, a Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade spokesperson responded that,
“As the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) plays a critical role in upholding international law and the rules-based order. Australia respects the independence of the ICJ and the judicial process. Judgments of the ICJ are binding on the parties to a case.” [Emphasis added]
If that is the case and the ICJ, as expected, makes interim orders in the proceedings directing Israel to desist in its military activities in Gaza, then a necessary corollary of the Australian government’s stated position must be that it immediately cease any activity that provides material or other support for the prohibited activity.
To do otherwise would contradict its stated position of respect for ICJ determinations.
The Australian government has been put into a difficult position by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has made a public declaration that he will ignore any interim measures imposed by the ICJ that interfere with Israel’s planned operations.
In televised remarks Netanyahu said, “No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else.”
End The Siege, Stop the War on Gaza demonstration in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 15, 2023. (Matt Hrkac, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)
Australia, which professes to support an international rules-based order, has at least acknowledged the gravity of the destruction, maiming and mass murder occurring in Gaza.
How it can now express its respect for the decisions of the ICJ, while maintaining its support for Israel, without a gross contradiction and hypocrisy, is not certain.
The signs by Australia are not entirely positive. Australia has already shown close support militarily for the Israeli assault and bombardment of the Palestinians in Gaza.
Supporting Israel’s Assault
Declassified Australia has documented the provision of essential components of the F-35 jet fighter being used to bomb civilians in Gaza. The government has supported more than 70 Australian companies being awarded “over $4.13 billion in global production and sustainment contracts through the F-35 program to date.”
In November, just a month into the conflict, Declassified Australia exclusively revealed the vital intelligence and targeting role being played by the Pine Gap U.S.-Australian surveillance base (JDFPG) in collecting an enormous range of communications and electronic intelligence from the battlefield and providing this to the Israel Defence Forces.
Foreign Minister Visiting Gaza Region
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken greeting Wong in Washington, D.C., in December 2022. (State Department, Ron Przysucha)
Over the coming days, Wong, the foreign affairs minister, is visiting Jordan, Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). The minister confirmed in her press release on Monday that in her engagement with Israel’s officials,
“[I will] convey Australia’s support for Israel’s security and its right to defend itself in the face of terrorism, while stressing that the way it does so matters.
“I will reaffirm Australia’s call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and meet with the families of hostages and survivors of the terror attacks on Oct 7. I will be joined by Australia’s Humanitarian Coordinator and will discuss practical ways to support an increased and more effective flow of humanitarian assistance.
“I will make clear Australia’s support for Palestinians’ right to self-determination and commitment to meeting humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank with officials in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. I will meet with representatives of communities affected by settler violence and reaffirm our view that settlements are illegal under international law. I will also emphasise Australia’s opposition to the forcible displacement of Palestinians and our view that Gaza must no longer be used as a platform for terrorism.”
Given that the foreign minister speaks for the country, she also needs to make clear that supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza is causing division in, and consequently a diminution of, Australia’s civil society.
She ought to also warn Israel that in the absence of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza or non-compliance with any findings of the ICJ, Australia’s support is politically unsustainable and will be withdrawn.
Support for Bombing Yemen
It is unfortunate that Minister Wong arrives in the Middle East without any moral authority, particularly on the back of Australia’s ill-advised support for the bombing of Yemen and Australia’s long-standing involvement in the U.S.-led Saudi-U.A.E. coalition war against Yemen.
Australia’s military has close links with the military of U.A.E., which is fighting the war in Yemen that has seen the deaths of over 377,000 people. It’s been previously revealed Australia has approved dozens of Australian ex-soldiers joining the U.A.E. military and its special forces commander heading the U.A.E.’s elite Presidential Guard.
Tens of thousands in Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, on Jan. 12 in solidarity with Palestine and protesting the U.S. and U.K. bombing campaign against the Yemeni blockade of Israeli ships and cargo in the Red Sea. (Ansarallah Military Media)
Many Member States, including Switzerland, made it clear during last Friday’s United Nations Security Council briefing that U.N. Resolution 2722 did not authorise the use of force against Yemen, may potentially undermine the peace process in the impoverished nation of Yemen, risks destabilising the entire region, and fails to acknowledge the root cause of the problem, namely the Israel/Palestine crisis.
Australia’s support for and involvement in its AUKUS partners’ actions was concealed from the Australian public until after the first round of bombings on Jan. 12.
No details were provided about the precise role of the Australians deployed to the U.S. operational headquarters in Doha.
The secrecy and suspect legality of the U.N.-unauthorised bombings raises serious questions about what Australians can expect from its AUKUS partnership itself and what they might be roped into as a result of that quasi-alliance.
Genocide Convention Obligations
Hanging over the Australian government too is the fact that it is a party to the Genocide Convention and has an obligation to take affirmative action to prevent genocide.
If the ICJ finds a prima facie case that it has jurisdiction to hear the case, government lawyers will need to consider the legality of its political support and defence exports — both direct and indirect — to Israel.
It is worth noting that the U.S. Center for Constitutional Rights has filed a suit against the U.S. president, secretary of state and secretary of defense on behalf of Palestinian organisations and civilians in the United States and Palestine, to challenge the U.S. government’s aiding and abetting of genocide and demand that it work to prevent genocide.
A hearing on the preliminary injunction motion is scheduled for Jan. 26.
Contemporaneously a group of about 40 lawyers from South Africa led by the law firm Wikus Van Rensburg Attorneys gave formal notice to the United States on Jan. 2 that it intends to bring legal proceedings against the United States based on overwhelming evidence that the U.S. Government has, and is, aiding, abetting and supporting, encouraging or providing material assistance to genocide.
The genocide it refers to is the enabling and perpetuating international crimes against the Palestinian people, by the State of Israel and the Israel Defence Forces.
Australia’s other AUKUS partner, the United Kingdom, received a similar notification. Perhaps, though less likely, Australia might get one too. It is naïve at best for the Australian government not to anticipate that firstly the world and second Australians in general, and lawyers in particular, will be watching closely as events unfold.
Australians may have no choice but to suffer the fate of its elected government in putting them on the wrong side of history. If the government is to continue to support any party to any existing war, or proposed warlike activity, then it ought to provide Australians more openness.
At the very least the Australian government owes both Parliament and the citizens a detailed legal and moral explanation and justification of the position it takes, and a clear statement, in advance, of its immediate objectives and its intentions for the future.
Kellie Tranter is a lawyer, researcher, and human rights advocate. She tweets from @KellieTranter View all posts by Kellie Tranter.
This article is from Declassified Australia.
The views expressed are solely those of the author and may or may not reflect those of Consortium News.
Sad and pathetic – Australia’s subservience to the US and Israel. Silence doesn’t absolve the guilt of its failure to stand up and speak out against clear evidenced and undeniable atrocities committed by Israel against so many Palestinian civilians.
Why else would Israel be on trial for genocide? Everyone, including the US and Israel itself, know that it is guilty of genocide, and has been for decades!
This is more of a political fight than anything else. The non-west (Global Majority/South) is testing the West’s ability to maintain its stance on the moral high ground, and the fact of the trial being underway shows that its stance is collapsing.
Whatever the final verdict, Israel is now a pariah state globally, and will never recover from the shame and disgrace.
An excellent piece from you, Kellie Tranter.
It clearly indicates the position that Australia has taken. Totally hypocritical when compared to the support given the ICJ action against Russia.
A US vassal state in all aspects and a country now disrespected for its total subservience to every US decision.
Unlikely to change whoever is in power and with war committments for Australia not even determined by a full parliamentary vote.
It’s the absolute highest level of chutzpah that Israeli leaders — even though they know darn well the entire world is witnessing their grotesque genocidal campaign — have no fear whatsoever and continue on with the reassuring feeling that nothing of consequence will ever happen to them.
It’s mind blowing!
How much longer are we going to put up with israel’s world-wide intimidation??? How much longer is israel going to hide behind the Holocaust – when it is israel who is now inflicting a ‘holocaust’ on Palestinians??? When is the WHITE Western world going to grow some backbone and stand up to israel’s appalling, disgraceful, horrendous behaviour??? The West’s deafening silence is appalling – a disgrace to humanity. FOR SHAME…
The simple answer Vera to your opening question is:
As long as it suits Washington.
Thank you Kellie. A thought-provoking and informative article.