The bombing of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities in Iran under the approval and direction of US President Donald Trump has been described as a pivotal moment in the geopolitical landscape.
Pundits have described this moment as a civilisational shift; a reaffirmation of the US-Israel alliance; a reaffirmation of the values of Western civilisation against the barbaric, oppressive, terror regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran; and a bold stand against the ideological forces that threaten genocide and death to Israel, America, and the non-believing West. Yet, it is concerning to see a return to the same strategy that has long plagued the Middle East – and the West in kind: Israel agrees to a ceasefire at US request, Israel is condemned on the world stage by international bodies, the Islamic Regime still stands undefeated, the West falls back into the same self-loathing pattern of appeasement and ambivalence in the face of Islamic radicalism.
There is no denying the sheer brilliance and precision in the US and Israeli coordination of the bombing of the Islamic Regime’s three nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. On one hand, Israel has removed the double existential threat posed by the Islamic Regime’s nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile infrastructure. On the other, Trump has shown a clear commitment to preventing a nuclear Iran under the dangerous rule of Ayatollah Khamenei, reaffirming that a world with a nuclear-armed Islamic Regime would embolden the Ayatollah and his terror proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
The larger question remains where does this leave Australia in the face of increasing support for Islamic radicalism and support for barbaric terror entities on our streets?
Displayed in full force last weekend in the main cities of Australia, was a shocking show of support for the Islamic Regime in Iran, as well as terrorist organisation Hezbollah. We heard chants of ‘Death to Israel’ (not uncommon and somehow permissible seeing as no one was arrested), and we also heard in Farsi and Arabic chants of ‘Death to Hypocrites’ or Munafiqun, meaning false believers – similar to kafir (unbeliever). Local authorities shy away from confronting this behaviour and genocidal rhetoric. The establishment tells us there is nothing to see here. That this is perfectly normal free speech and freedom to protest. The normalisation of this behaviour and rhetoric should be deeply concerning for every single Australian. This is happening in Australia and across the West – the nations that were once a beacon of freedom, democracy, hope, and a safe life away from radicalism and threats of violence.
It was Brendan O’Neill who recently wrote:
‘Bury the truth to tame the throng – that, for years, was the rallying cry of the establishment. And when the truth could no longer be contained, they called for coolness, restraint, decorous language only.’
O’Neill was commenting on the gang rape scandal in the UK but the sentiment remains the same, the establishment tells us not to worry for the sake of peace and calm. But refusing to name a threat does not make it go away. It simply leaves our societies defenceless and it erodes our national unity and our social fabric that binds every single Australian living in what is a great country.
For decades, Israel has been fighting terrorism and radical Islam whilst maintaining its core values of democracy, pluralism, and religious freedoms. Its citizens are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, and more. People of all backgrounds vote, protest, and serve in public office. But more than that, the national unity of the country is what holds it together. In a 2024 survey, two-thirds (63 per cent) of Israelis agreed that despite existing divisions, Israel has the potential to be a cohesive society. In November 2023, one month post-October 7, an Israel Democracy Institute survey indicated that 70 per cent of Arab citizens expressed a sense of connection to Israel which was a significant increase, from under 50 per cent just months earlier. Notwithstanding the national heartache for the remaining hostages still held in Hamas captivity in Gaza, the country holds itself together because of its strong sense of purpose, unity, and direction. The post-October 7 humanitarian effort demonstrated a national coming together to assist communities who were attacked, families that lost loved ones in the massacre, and a general sense that Hamas spreads chaos over coexistence. It was not only Jewish families that were attacked on October 7, it was all people of Israel including Thai nationals, Bedouin Arabs, Ethiopians, Filipinos, people who make up the social fabric of Israel.
On top of that, it is important to highlight the calculated and bold move by the Israeli government to preemptively strike the Islamic Regime. The strike was overwhelmingly successful targeting nuclear sites, senior regime personnel and commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – a designated terrorist organisation by Bahrain, Canada, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and the US. The reason this move by Israel is so monumental, is because it shows an iron-clad strength against Israel’s enemies. It demonstrates that despite facing a bombardment of repeated missile and drone attacks launched directly from Iran, Iranian proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, accusations of the most horrific blood libels from an unrelenting media, a lack of support from Western governments, and false accusations of genocide of which none were upheld by the International Court of Justice, the Israeli government had the clarity and courage to execute a historic and successful attack against an enemy of Israel, the West, and the Iranian people. Nothing says courage, unity and purpose like Israel’s pre-emptive strike.
Unfortunately, the Australian government is far off having courage, purpose or instilling national unity. We failed to see support for Israel over the last twenty months in the face of existential threats, so much so that we have seen the reverse. We see an increase in support for entities that are in complete contradiction to Australian values whether it be support for communism, terrorism, or Islamic radicalism. The Australian government couldn’t even mount a timely response to the US strikes on the Islamic Regime’s nuclear facilitates demonstrating that the government does not grasp the seriousness of this existential threat to every Western nation. When finally, a lacklustre statement was made in support of the US strikes on the regime’s nuclear facilities, there was no condemnation for the mass support for the Islamic Regime and its terror proxies on display during the mass protests across the weekend – or the last 20 months.
The lack of moral resolve and sense of purpose is perhaps the undeniable reason the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index Report finds Australians’ life satisfaction is at an all-time low. National wellbeing is at an all-time low. Government satisfaction is at an all-time low. And average satisfaction with national security has hit its lowest point in eighteen years. Despite this result being from November 2024, it’s a devastating find for a country that has vast resources and opportunities for innovation. It’s also a devastating result when social cohesion has been declining for several years, marked by the erosion of national pride, sense of belonging, rising financial pressures, and a diminished sense of social inclusion.
Strong leadership sees a country through tough times. Australia is struggling. The UK is struggling. European nations are struggling. The US is struggling but under President Trump it seems to be returning to the values that made it strong. It should not be difficult for governments everywhere to call out radicalism when confronted with it. The Australian leadership needs to think carefully about the direction Australia is to take. Australia’s overall terrorism threat level stands at ‘PROBABLE’ since September 2024, with a likelihood of over 50 per cent of an onshore attack within the next twelve months. Certainly, that should be enough for the government to say that support for Islamic radicalism is not freedom of speech, it is a clear endorsement of terrorism that undermines the safety and values of our country.
