‘Force of good’: Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s message to Australia over Iran war

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has told Australians his nation is a “force for good” as shockwaves from war in the Middle East raise fuel prices and send global markets crashing.

The US and Israel’s war on Iran entered its 11th-day on Tuesday.

The conflict, which has widened to include as many as 13 nations, has sparked fears of a global petrol crisis, including in Australia where metropolitan prices are already soaring.

Mr Herzog, who was in Australia last month for a state visit, sought to calm those fears in a wide-reaching interview with 7News.

He described the war as an “historic process”, and when asked if it was going how he expected, he said he was hopeful Israel would “change the direction of this region”.

 “Because there’s a unique opportunity for a peaceful movement in the region towards a better future,” Mr Herzog said.

“My message to the Australian people is that we are a force of good, trying to bring the world to a better place.”

Mr Herzog said he believed the “world economy will stabilise”.

“Because, that’s what usually happens,” he said.

The Israeli leader would not commit to a timeframe for war, which he said “take its time”, noting limiting Iran’s military capability was “a very important achievement”.

“We are weakening this empire of evil. I believe the Iranian people want change and they can bring change,” he said.

He described slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who on Monday was chose to succeed his father as supreme leader, as a “brutal guy” but would not discuss whether Israel planned on assassinating him.

“Well, I’m not going into operation plans,” he said.

“All I’m saying is, he’s a brutal, cruel person who’s part and parcel of the enormous bloodshed … they’re spreading, bloodshed, hate all over the world and in his own country.”

Military aid to the UAE

Australia will grant a request from the United Arab Emirates to deploy military assets to the Middle East as regional tensions escalate.

An E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and the Australian Defence Force personnel needed to support its operation will be deployed to The Gulf on Tuesday, Anthony Albanese told reporters in Canberra.

“In responding to requests following a conversation that I had with the President (of the UAE), and other requests, Australia will deploy an E-7A Wedgetail to the Gulf to help protect and defend Australians and other civilians,” the Prime Minister said on Tuesday.

“The Wedgetail will provide long-range reconnaissance capability, which will help to protect and secure the airspace above The Gulf.”

The military asset will be deployed with ADF personnel for an initial four weeks in support of the “collective self-defence of Gulf nations”.

Mr Albanese reiterated that Australia was not taking “offensive action against Iran” and would not deploy Australian troops on the ground.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said 85 ADF personnel – a “normal” sized crew – would be sent to support the Wedgetail.

“We have also received a request from the UAE to supply advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, and we will be supplying a number of those to the UAE as well,” he said.

“These are defensive weapons, and I want to make that clear.

“That is the basis upon which our personnel are being deployed and this equipment is being deployed.

“It is for the defence of the countries of The Gulf, in particular UAE, where there are significant numbers of Australians who reside.”

Mr Albanese was later asked how he would explain his decision to the Australian people.

“That are 24,000 Australians in the United Arab Emirates, that we have a close relationship with the UAE, that we’ve been asked for support for their defence in what is a country that is receiving an unprovoked attack that endangers their citizens but also endangers Australian citizens,” he said.

He later emphasised Australia were not “protagonists” in the conflict.

“Our involvement is purely defensive, and it’s in defence of Australians who are in the region, as well as in defence of our friends in the United Arab Emirates, who are good friends of Australia and Australians. We have a free-trade agreement with them that’s opened up the markets of the Middle East,” Mr Albanese said.

He also refused to divulge whether an off-ramp for the conflict was discussed during an overnight phone call with US President Donald Trump, saying the conversation covered “broad events” despite repeatedly being pressed by reporters.

The war in the Middle East erupted after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

Retaliatory strikes were then launched on US air bases located in neighbouring Gulf countries and have dragged several countries into the widening conflict.

Australia active in the war

Reacting to the announcement, opposition frontbencher Dan Tehan said Australia’s assistance has made it an active participant in the Middle East war.

“I think by the very nature of that action, yes, we are,” he told ABC radio.

“And we’re doing that because we want to keep Australians safe and we want to see an end to this evil Iranian (regime).

“We want to be doing our bit to keep the region safe and obviously bring this conflict to an end.

“The best thing that can happen now is for the Iranian regime to say enough’s enough.”