One of Israel’s most senior diplomats has laid down the gauntlet, suggesting the Middle East could be months away from major conflict if Iran persists in maintaining military bases in Syria.
In a sit-down interview with The Australian to mark the country’s 70th anniversary, Israel’s new ambassador to Australia, Mark Sofer, doesn’t mince words, dwelling on Israel’s grave concerns about the insidious beachhead of Iranian military power pushing into Syria, which shares a border with Israel.
“Iran cannot stay in Syria, period. We’re not going to have them on the border. It has passed what we are going to be able to accept under any circumstances,” he says, adding Iran is “crossing a red line”.
“Our position is clear, they have to get out and go home,” Sofer says.
In an interview conducted against a backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East following US, British and French airstrikes against Syrian bases, Sofer says he doesn’t want to talk about any timetable for retaliation, simply stressing “the principle of permanent Iranian presence inside of Syria will not be condoned by us under any circumstances”.
Tight security at the Israeli embassy itself is a reminder how, 70 years since its creation, the security of the only genuine example of liberal democracy in a region not known for its tolerance is far from guaranteed.
Highly articulate — and for a career diplomat refreshingly frank and talkative — the new Israeli ambassador to Australia says he’s happy to be here, having been responsible previously for Israel’s relations in the Asia-Pacific, from India to New Zealand.
“I’m a bit of an Asia hand. I could have basically chosen a lot of places but I chose here. This is seen as a very important posting, one of the more important postings we have,” Sofer stresses, underlining the strong political, economic and defence relationship with Australia — not to mention the “very good and able”, large Jewish community.
Read the article by Adam Creighton in The Australian (subscription required).