Published: 6 August 2024
Last updated: 6 August 2024
Tensions between Israel and the Australian government have intensified following the release of a high-profile report into the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom as Israeli officials accused Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong of misrepresenting the findings.
Israeli officials were angered by Wong’s response to former Australian Defence Force chief Mark Binskin’s report on Friday, believing she overemphasised its negative conclusions and downplayed more positive aspects.
Israeli officials were especially incensed that Wong described the April killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers as an “intentional strike” on Friday when Binskin’s report affirmed the Israel Defence Forces’ initial finding that workers were not deliberately targeted and their deaths were a result of procedural failures.
In its first statement since the report’s release, the Israeli embassy in Canberra said the IDF had taken “full responsibility for the grave mistakes that led to the tragic incident”, but stopped short of delivering an official apology recommended by Binskin and backed by the Albanese government.
“The Australian government’s statement about the report regrettably included some misrepresentations about omitted crucial details with respect to the manner in which the report was conducted, the degree of co-operation and openness exhibited by the IDF, and even with respect to certain aspects of the tragic incident itself,” the embassy said.
“The report explicitly reaffirms that the IDF is a professional and disciplined army, with similar legal views, standards and controls in place to mitigate the risks of war, like the ADF [Australian Defence Force].”
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Israel accuses Wong of ‘misrepresenting’ aid worker deaths report (SMH, paywall)
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Comments2
Susan Seymour29 August at 09:09 am
A huge risk in being in Gaza given it is a war zone through no fault of Israel. The IDF acknowledged there responsibility. No surprise Penny Wong’s actions in this tragic situation which does not help anyone.
Wesley Parish7 August at 07:58 am
Quote: “In its first statement since the report’s release, the Israeli embassy in Canberra said the IDF had taken “full responsibility for the grave mistakes that led to the tragic incident”, but stopped short of delivering an official apology recommended by Binskin and backed by the Albanese government.” Unquote.
Ever few days we hear of another journalist killed by the IDF, while wearing PRESS jackets and whatnot. We hear of medical staff routinely killed by the IDF, as well as hospitals being slandered – Al Shifa’s Hamas Tunnel Network, anybody? Santa Claus’ Chimney Abseiling Outfit, do I hear any offers?
The result of all this has been to downgrade Israel’s trustworthiness. With the result that any thinking person, unless they are sold on Israel’s infallibility, does not trust any IDF statement that is not independently verified. But any thinking person would recognize that regarding the IDF as infallible, is idolatrous in the extreme.