Starmer and Sunak intentionally turn a blind eye to the fact Israel started the conflict with Iran

On 1 April, Israel bombed an Iranian embassy in Syria – a move which technically counts as a direct attack on Iranian soil. After nearly two weeks of promising a retaliatory strike, Iran launched a drone assault on 13 April.

This is clearly a very bad situation fomented by Israel, and one which may drag the UK and other Western nations into a broader conflict. It shouldn’t drag us into it, but when you read the responses of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, it seems there’s cross-party support for turning a blind eye to Israel’s actions:

Britain is actively participating in a war – without any parliamentary or public debate.

With Starmer and Sunak issuing almost identical statements tonight, we appear to have become a one-party state with a foreign policy that has no moral compass or basis in international law. pic.twitter.com/Qxj0dg0abH

— Steve Howell (@FromSteveHowell) April 13, 2024

Israel: the blowback begins

Iran launched 300 drones and missiles at Israel, the vast majority of which were intercepted by Israel, the US, the UK, and ‘other forces’. It’s not unexpected that so many would be intercepted given Israel’s ‘iron dome’ defence system which can detect and shoot down drones and missiles.

Following the retaliatory strike, Al Jazeera reported:

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the attack, saying it launched the drones and missiles under Operation True Promise as part of the punishment for “the Zionist entity’s crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Syria” on April 1.

The raid in Damascus killed 12 people, including two senior generals in the IRGC’s elite Quds Force.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the consulate attack.

With the missiles and drone attack, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said it now deemed the matter “concluded” and warned Israel of a “considerably more severe” response should the “Israeli regime make another mistake”.

It also warned the US to stay out of the conflict.

Sunak and Starmer respond

Not long after the retaliatory strike began, prime minister Rishi Sunak released the following message:

Read my statement on the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. pic.twitter.com/xeuR3cd3kG

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 13, 2024

There is no mention of the embassy attack which started all this.

You can highlight that Sunak says we’re working with our allies “to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation”, but one of those allies is Israel. If we tolerate Israel striking against Iran but not the reverse, it’s difficult to see how this situation won’t escalate.

It’s also difficult how to see how this response is anything other than a message to Israel that we will back what they do next and blame what happens on Iran.

Keir Starmer’s response is so similar to Sunak’s that he might soon be accused of plagiarism:

My statement on the Iranian regime’s attack on Israel. pic.twitter.com/8vth7Aok5E

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 13, 2024

The world is watching

Sunak and Starmer are selling a version of reality in which the Iran strike came out of nowhere. It’s a reality in which we and our allies can launch unprovoked attacks and then condemn our targets for retaliating.

It’s a reality which many are unwilling to accept:

I'm not sure how many people considered it in the UK's interest for Israel to bomb the Iranian embassy in Damascus. https://t.co/gFNntADh4n

— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) April 13, 2024

The Israeli state deliberately incited a war with Iran because

– its onslaught against Gaza is failing on its own terms

– global public opinion has swung decisively against Israel

– the Biden administration is under pressure

– Netanyahu faces jail when war ends

— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) April 13, 2024

Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in a sovereign state, which is a direct violation of The Vienna Convention. And as a lawyer you understand this is one of the most foundational documents of international law. Any thoughts on that?

— Philip Proudfoot (@PhilipProudfoot) April 13, 2024

Weak leaders defending Israel

Hopefully Israel doesn’t escalate the conflict further.

But if it does, Sunak and Starmer will find themselves having to explain why British men and women are dying in a needless war started by an undeserving ally.

From what we’ve seen so far, their efforts will not be convincing.

Featured image via Flickr – Number 10 / Wikimedia – Government Press Office of Israel / Flickr – Rwendland (all images cropped from source)