Pearls and Irritations

For some time now a considerable number of well-informed Australians have been warning Anthony Albanese and his government not to allow personal flattery and uncertain commitments to allow the United States to gain control of Australian foreign policy and defence policies.

Yet unfortunately some leaders always know best, so the Albanese Cabinet has continued on its chosen path, grovelling to Washington and ignoring calls for a more professional assessment of Australia’s national interest. Richard Marles has swept aside any serious questioning of AUKUS and ministers have doggedly refused to comment on the illegal military assaults on Gaza and Lebanon.

As thousands were killed and with Gaza continually under siege, President Biden repeatedly promised a ceasefire while continuing to provide Israel with unlimited military supplies. Now the United States’ duplicity is finally exposed as its lone veto vote at the Security Council this week destroys any remnant of hope that military attacks on civilians will cease. The outgoing Biden administration faces universal condemnation for its failure to manage an intransigent Netanyahu regime that has brazenly breached international humanitarian law and continues to bypass all rational efforts to negotiate peace in the Middle East.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has now issued warrants for the arrest of the Prime Minister of Israel, former defence Minister Yoav Gallant and the Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. This means arrests can be made in any of the 125 countries that are signatories to the ICC and that includes Australia. While it is unlikely those named will be venturing outside the security of their own countries, this decision provides further international legal evidence for the sanctioning of Israel for its ongoing war crimes. Jeffrey Sachs has called the ICC arrest warrant decision an “indictment of U.S policy “

All political leaders should understand that difficult decisions may be delayed but eventually any inaction will force them to finally face their responsibilities. Since the attack by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, the Albanese government has carefully avoided any decision that would confront its allies preferring instead to only show outrage about the original atrocity but failing to condemn ongoing brutal reprisals against Palestinians and Lebanese civilians.

The language of the Albanese government has been carefully scripted to follow Washington ‘s agreed narrative so Australians have never heard official statements of regret, which are routinely initiated in the parliament at times of tragedy. Had there been a natural disaster anywhere in the world resulting in 43,000 deaths the parliament would have recorded its shock and horror at the scale of such a disaster. Yet any effort on the part of the Greens and Independents for the parliament to engage in recording its sympathy was immediately attacked by the government as “political.” Yet surely Albanese Cabinet members realise that they have been manipulated by the “political “influence of their trusted allies.

Australians understand that their national government cannot prevent the terrible suffering of people from military attacks overseas, but they do expect their leaders to speak up for humanity and justice. They also expect their national leaders to respect and comply with the standards of the United Nations and the international legal system Australia has always supported.

The Albanese Government faces a new world reality that requires it to re assess its priorities and decide whether it will commit to Australian independence and fully comply with its obligations under the Genocide Convention and the International Criminal Court.

The ICC decision is a turning point for the Australian Government which has tried to carefully manoeuvre conflicting demands and expectations both domestically and internationally. Neither the United States nor Israel are signatories to the ICC so there will be loud and vociferous denunciation of this ruling, the first time a western nation has been called to account for breaches of international law. But the Australian Government must face the reality that these allies can no longer be trusted to adhere to international humanitarian law, so it must choose a clear and independent path forward.

There is no doubt that the Opposition and Murdoch press will enthusiastically engage in opposing the ICC arrests warrant decision, following the American play book to allege this international court is corrupt and antisemitic. However, the Australian Government would be well advised to seize this moment to review its international priorities to reconsider how it will work with Washington and Tel Aviv. It is impossible to predict the future but there can be little doubt among serious foreign policy analysts that Israel has become a pariah state, and the United States has suffered too because of its complicity. Australia cannot afford to be similarly isolated and must reestablish its reputation as an independent middle power.

The Prime Minister can no longer rely on soft rhetoric as an excuse for real international leadership. His government must now stand firm in complying with international standards of humanitarian law.

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