The Australia Peace and Security Forum (APSF) deplores the Australian Government’s decision to enter the US/Israel illegal war against Iran. Australia’s involvement in the UAE may be consistent with UN Charter Article 51, but the initiation of war against Iran by the US and Israel was a clear breach of international law and the UN Charter. APSF calls on the Federal Government to call for an immediate ceasefire and urgent resumption of diplomatic negotiations through the United Nations and appropriate regional organisations.
“It is against Australia’s national interest to have entered the war without any Parliamentary debate or a vote. Did we not learn from the disastrous and illegal 2003 Iraq war? Instead, Australia should be actively persuading Israel and the US, countries with which we have long-standing and cordial relationships, to end the bombing and to call a ceasefire, said Dr Ian Lowe, co-President of APSF.
The Israel/US war with Iran threatens peace across the region and beyond. The conflict has quickly escalated to impact multiple countries, and the resulting energy crisis now threatens global economic security. Women and children are again bearing the brunt of the relentless bombing with thousands of people already dead including at least 165 Iranian schoolgirls. There have been multiple attacks on desalination plants in the region since the conflict began and which, if expanded, could result in a severe water crisis, especially in the Gulf States.
Disruptions to oil and gas supplies, fertiliser supply chains and global shipping routes have already pushed up energy and food prices which will continue to rise until supply chains are restored. Higher food and energy prices will have the biggest impact on the poor, especially in the Global South and will increase world hunger. The risk of long-lasting dire economic and humanitarian consequences for the world is real, demanding immediate resolution.
APSF calls on the Federal Government to withdraw all Australian military personnel from the Middle East involved in this illegal war. It is nonsensical to claim that Australian forces who are involved in this war are acting only in a defensive manner. Australia must not support countries that refuse to respect international law, including our allies: we must stand up for the rules-based world that protects all countries and which has served Australia’s interests well since WWII.
Australia’s failure to stand up for international law and to call-out the US and Israel for starting this war makes us complicit in a ‘might is right’ based order. We must say no to a world where superpowers (US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, US/Israel war on Iran in 2026) act in ways that seriously undermines global peace and security.
Contact:
- Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe, Co-President APSF 0427 278 432
- Russell Rollason, Secretary APSF 0436 378 377