Updated ,first published
Israel’s new ambassador to Australia says it is mind-boggling anyone would question the legality of the US-Israeli strikes against Iran as he urged the Albanese government not to call for a ceasefire before the war’s objectives have been achieved.
Hillel Newman, who arrived in Australia last week, said the war could be over sooner than the four to five weeks US President Donald Trump has forecast if Israel and the US eliminate Iran’s capacity to produce a nuclear weapon and fire ballistic missiles.
“Once we feel that we’ve done that, from our point of view it’s over,” he said.
“If no-one else comes into the conflict it should end as soon as possible.”
Newman said that while Israel would celebrate regime change in Iran, this was not a central objective of the war.
The vast majority of international law experts have argued the initial strikes on Iran were illegal as there was no imminent prospect of attack from Iran and they were not authorised by the United Nations Security Council.
Asked to respond, Newman said: “I would say to them: that is mind-boggling…Israel has been under attack for decades. Hamas and Hezbollah have launched rockets against Israel; people in Israel have had 15 seconds to run to a bomb shelter or their lives are in jeopardy.”
He continued: “Imagine if Australia was under attack, and there were rockets launched by some entity against Australia. Who would question the right of defence against such a rogue entity?”
Iran has for decades funded militant groups such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen that have launched rocket attacks on Israel.
Newman described the strikes as “an act of self-defence” to remove “imminent threats” from Iran.
He claimed Israel knew from intelligence sources that Iran intended to “rapidly race towards nuclear military capability, and then hide it underground so deep that they would be immune from future attacks”.
This explained the “urgency, the time sensitivity of this attack”, he said.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, this week said that “there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb”, but added he was concerned by inspectors’ lack of access to its large stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium.
A group of UN human rights experts, including University of Sydney professor Ben Saul, this week described the US-Israeli strikes as “unlawful” and “unprovoked”, saying: “We cannot pick and choose when international law applies.”
Asked about the various justifications that have been given for the war – including by US President Donald Trump – Newman said: “Perhaps our public relations is not as good as it should be…I agree our PR is perhaps not perfect. We have to improve.”
He said Australia had put itself “on the right side of history” by swiftly backing the strikes and declaring Iran should not be allowed to procure a nuclear weapon. The Albanese government has since called for a de-escalation of hostilities while stopping short of calling for a ceasefire.
“I would say to everyone, weigh [your decision] carefully because a premature ceasefire will undermine the efforts, undermine the objectives and the achievements,” Newman said.
“If one supports the objectives of the war, then one should also support the legitimacy of the operation until we attain the objectives.”
Newman previously served as Israel’s consul general in Los Angeles and ambassador to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
He has replaced Amir Maimon, who extended his tenure following the terror attack at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach and a visit to Australia by Israeli President Issac Herzog.
Newman described Australia as a “natural ally” of Israel, saying he hoped the nations could improve relations after years of acrimony sparked by the war in Gaza, the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Newman said he had expected Iran to lash out after the strikes, but was surprised it was attacking even countries with which it has previously had friendly relations.
Israel has also launched a fearsome attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon, ordering civilians to leave the southern suburbs of Beirut and amassing troops for a possible ground invasion.
Hezbollah fired three rockets into Israel after the strikes on Iran, but they were intercepted by Israeli air defences or landed in an open field.
Asked whether the Israeli response was disproportionate, he said: “The fact that any missile is launched is a situation which is intolerable…We have no beef with Lebanon right now, but they attacked so we have to respond.”
He said the aim of the attacks on Hezbollah was to create a buffer zone so residents in northern Israel can return home without fearing rocket attacks.
Seventy-seven people have died in Lebanon since the resumption of hostilities, according to Lebanese authorities.
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Matthew Knott is the foreign affairs and national security correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X, Facebook or email.
