Australia’s claim that Israel has a right to defend itself against Iran is inconsistent with our rules-based order

While Penny Wong and Richard Marles rightly urged de-escalation between Israel and Iran, they also failed to condemn Israel’s attack on Iran, along with a few other outliers like France and Germany. Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP

For all Australia’s breezy talk of a “rules-based international order”, it doesn’t take much for our politicians to question that order to shield Israel.

The Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, on Sunday extraordinarily referred to Israel’s “right to self-defence” after it pre-emptively attacked Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Australia’s defence minister, Richard Marles, affirmed that statement to the ABC on Monday. The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, made the same call over the weekend. While Marles and Wong rightly urged de-escalation, and Ley urged caution, they also failed to condemn Israel’s attack on Iran, along with a few other outliers like France and Germany.