Barely a week after it announced the expulsion of an Israeli diplomat following the misuse of Australian passports, the Rudd government was yesterday again at odds with Israel.
The renewed tension came after it emerged that Israeli commandos had shot one Australian citizen and detained three others in its botched raid on the convoy.
A permanent resident, Fairfax journalist Paul McGeough, an Irish national, has also been detained.
Addressing reporters in Canberra, the Prime Minister said he had yet to receive a full briefing on the incident.
“However, as I have seen them, let me say this very clearly, the Australian government condemns any use of violence under the sorts of circumstances that we have seen,” Mr Rudd said.
“Furthermore, we are deeply concerned about the loss of life which has occurred.”
Mr Rudd called on Israel to conduct a comprehensive, independent inquiry into the incident, which left at least 10 dead and 30 wounded, including an Australian national, believed to be Ahmed Talib, who was shot in the leg.
Mr Talib’s wife, also an Australian, is thought to be among the five Australian nationals or permanent residents detained by Israel.
Mr Rudd said the results of that inquiry should then be forwarded to the UN Security Council. “If the Israeli authorities and the Israeli government do not do that, then consideration should be given to what other form of inquiry occurs,” Mr Rudd said.
He also repeated the government’s opposition to the military blockade of the Gaza Strip, which is now a Hamas stronghold.
“We believe that the people of Gaza, letting aside the whole questions of the long-standing dispute and a long-standing war, the people of Gaza should be provided with humanitarian assistance.”
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told parliament the government was working to establish whether any other Australians were involved in the incident. However, he stressed there was no indication of any.
Earlier, on morning radio, he indicated Israel could suffer permanent damage to its reputation if it was not seen to be conducting a full, transparent inquiry. “The onus is on Israel to, in a detailed way, explain the facts and what has occurred here,” Mr Smith said.
“There is, as you’ve seen overnight, very considerable concern in the international community about what I’ve described as a terrible and shocking incident.”
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop stopped short of calling for UN involvement and did not condemn Israel’s use of force.
“There have been many claims and counter-claims in relation to this event, and it is essential that the facts be established,” she said.
“We believe it is in the interests of all sides that there be restraint to enable the facts to be fully investigated.”
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