Israeli ambassador suggests former defence chief Binskin return to Israel to pursue Frankcom decision
- Written by: Weekend Times
Israeli ambassador Hillel Newman has suggested Australia sends former defence chief Mark Binskin back to Israel to follow up its defence force’s refusal to further investigate the fatal attack on Australian Zomi
Frankcom and other aid workers in 2024.
The Albanese government has reacted furiously to the Israeli chief military prosecutor’s ruling, after an internal probe, that there was “no reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct” and so there would be no criminal investigation.
Binskin did a report for the Australian government into the incident, although he was not given access to all the information.
Three attacks over a few minutes on the World Central Kitchen convoy, that was travelling in Gaza at night after unloading supplies, killed seven people from several countries.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong called in Newman on Thursday to express the government’s anger. The Wednesday announcement was seen as all the more galling because it came hours after Wong, with Frankcom’s family, had launched an award in her name on World Humanitarian Day.
Wong spoke with Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Thursday night. A spokesperson said she had “conveyed Australia’s view and expectations”.
The Albanese government has promised to pursue the issue further, in consultation with the Frankcom family. But it is not clear what, realistically, it could do that would change the situation.
The Netanyahu government is headed to an election soon and is unlikely to be swayed.
Australia is likely to consult with other countries affected by the attack. The United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Poland had citizens killed. A Palestinian was also killed. One option would be to use sanctions of some kind. The government has ruled out expelling the Israeli ambassador.
In a Friday morning ABC interview, Newman’s tone was more conciliatory than it was on Thursday.
He raised the possibility of Binskin going back to Israel and having “access to the people who made the decision”.
Newman said he did not know whether there was an appeal process “but if there is, they’re totally open to that”.
“Any legal process that is available, they can use,” he said.
“Israel is open to discussions on the legal aspect. We can share information with legal teams of Australia.”
Also “the aspect of reparations can be checked, definitely,” he said. “We need a specific request and then it’s investigated, according to the rules of reparations.”
Government sources on Friday were unenthusiastic about Binskin returning unless it was clear there would be progress. But the government will be examining what options exist within the Israeli system.
Binskin said in his report:
based on the information available to me, it is my assessment that the IDF strike on the WCK aid workers was not knowingly or deliberately directed against the WCK.
An outstanding issue is that the Israelis have denied access to the audio of the drone attack, although Binskin was allowed to see footage.
Pressed on why access to the audio was not given, Newman said it might be because of intelligence concerns.
The ambassador defended the timing of the announcement on World Humanitarian Day saying it was assumed people would want to hear it as soon as possible.
Albanese, asked on Thursday night whether the government would press Israel for some form of independent investigation, told the ABC that would be “one of the options that certainly should be considered.
"It’s certainly not good enough that on World Humanitarian Day of all days, they release this so-called report that essentially says, ‘Yes, we’re responsible, but nothing to see here’”.
After the incident two of the military personnel involved were dismissed and others reprimanded.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
