Israel\u00a0posts fake photo of journalist it killed in strike <\/a><\/p>\nThe IDF has admitted the image of a killed journalist in military uniform it posted on its official X account was faked.<\/p>\n
“Sometimes people \u2026 in different, faraway countries can’t also understand the threat. They can’t understand the situation,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We’re in a difficult neighbourhood \u2026 we have neighbours who are bent on the destruction of the state of Israel, who are bent on terrorism.<\/p>\n
“So there are elements that might be necessary in a country like that, which are not necessary in a country where your neighbours are New Zealand and Fiji.”<\/p>\n
Dr Newman argued Israel was not obliged to apply the law equally to people who were not Israeli citizens and that the death penalty was required as an additional deterrent to would-be militants.<\/p>\n
“We reached a situation where you have terrorists on your border, terrorists crossing the border, attacking communities, and the usual punishment is no deterrent,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Because they believe \u2026 they get released in exchanges of prisoners.”<\/p>\n
Lebanon invasion a ‘forward defensive position’<\/p>\n
The ambassador was also questioned on Israel’s aims in its invasion of southern Lebanon and what objectives it needed to achieve before it would withdraw.<\/p>\n
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz last week declared the country intended to occupy southern Lebanon as part of its campaign against militant group Hezbollah.<\/p>\n
The Australian government has previously expressed deep concern about an Israeli ground offensive within Lebanon, and Senator Wong spoke with her Israeli counterpart last week.<\/p>\n
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Israel and the United States teamed up to launch the attack on Iran. (Reuters: Ronen Zvulun)<\/p>\n
Senator Wong this morning urged against any further escalation in Israel’s operation in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
“Continued escalation, we would say, is not in Israel’s interests and certainly not in the interests of the civilian population of Lebanon,” she said.<\/p>\n
Dr Newman told the press club the operations in Lebanon were necessary.<\/p>\n
“The incursion into Lebanon is a self-defensive incursion in order to distance, as much as possible, the rockets from falling on the northern part of Israel, which endangers close to a million citizens of Israel,” he said.<\/p>\n
But Dr Newman did not put a specific time frame on the operation, stating the actions in Lebanon would continue so long as Hezbollah had a presence there.<\/p>\n
“The idea is to take up positions which will be defensive positions, we call them forward defensive positions, in order to prevent, as much as possible, the launching of rockets,” he said.<\/p>\n
“If a day comes where we do not have Hezbollah operatives south of the Litani River launching rockets against the people of Israel, then of course Israel will not be there anymore.”<\/p>\n
Earlier in his address, Dr Newman sought to explain Israel’s concerns and justifications for launching attacks on both Iran and southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n
Expert analysis on the Middle East:<\/p>\n
He said Israel was working to ensure the oil shortages shaking global markets were short-lived.<\/p>\n
“Efforts are being extended to make sure that the energy concerns are temporary and minimal,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Diversifying energy sources, opening new channels of supply chains, and deterring future attacks.<\/p>\n
“The ultimate remedy is removing the ultimate threat \u2014 Iran and its proxies.”<\/p>\n
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