Latest news with #Haskel
Sky News AU
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Can't count on Hamas': Ceasefire against a terrorist organisation ‘very difficult'
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel discusses the potential of a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. 'Our goal is not a war, our goal is to bring back our family members as quickly and as safely as possible,' Ms Haskel told Sky News host Caleb Bond. 'The problem is that Hamas continues and continues to refuse and to say no. 'We are standing against a terrorist organisation … if that's their goal, it is very difficult to speak to them, to negotiate with them. 'You can't count on Hamas to have the same logic.'
Calgary Herald
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
'Read a few more history books,' Canada-born Israeli minister advises millennials uneasy with Iran war
Article content OTTAWA — One of Israeli's highest-ranking politicians says she understands that many people could be feeling déjà vu as the West faces another war in the Middle East over the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Article content The Toronto-born Sharren Haskel, now Israel's junior minister of foreign affairs, was herself a young enlistee in Israel's armed forces (specifically the border police) when then U.S. president George W. Bush and a coalition of allies invaded Iraq in 2003, vowing to destroy weapons of mass destruction, that were later found to be non-existent. Article content Article content Article content Article content 'I've seen things that I don't wish anyone to see,' Haskel, 41, told National Post on Monday. Article content But public opinion studies have documented an 'Iraq War hangover' driving anti-war attitudes among millennials, born between 1981 and 1996. Article content A 2019 Ipsos study study tracking more than 16,000 millennials across 16 countries, including the U.S., found that three-quarters believed that most wars could be avoided. Respondents from war-affected countries were more hopeful than others that future wars could be avoided. Article content But Haskel said that Iran poses a much graver threat today than Iraq did two decades ago. Article content 'The two cases are extremely different,' she said, noting that Iran's advanced nuclear enrichment and ballistics missile programs have been well-documented by several international bodies and governments, and that they pose a 'double existential threat' to international security. Article content Article content Prior to this month's Israel and U.S.-led attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimated that Iran had enough raw material for nine nuclear weapons. Article content Article content Haskel said that the fear of a repeat of the disastrous Iraq war has made the U.S. and other Western countries too hesitant to use force against an intransigent Iran. Article content 'We've seen in recent years, and because of (Iraq), how the international community have been chasing up a diplomatic solution,' said Haskel. Article content 'But unfortunately, this enemy that you're facing was growing to a monstrous size while deceiving the international community.' Article content Iran signed what looked to be a breakthrough nuclear deal with the U.S. and other world powers in 2015, but it has repeatedly violated the terms of this agreement. The IAEA reported in 2023 that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium was 30 times more than the maximum permitted under the agreement.
Vancouver Sun
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
'Read a few more history books,' Canada-born Israeli minister advises millennials uneasy with Iran war
OTTAWA — One of Israeli's highest-ranking politicians says she understands that many people could be feeling déjà vu as the West faces another war in the Middle East over the threat of weapons of mass destruction. The Toronto-born Sharren Haskel, now Israel's junior minister of foreign affairs, was herself a young enlistee in Israel's armed forces (specifically the border police) when then U.S. president George W. Bush and a coalition of allies invaded Iraq in 2003, vowing to destroy weapons of mass destruction, that were later found to be non-existent. And she's not a fan of war, she said. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I've seen things that I don't wish anyone to see,' Haskel, 41, told National Post on Monday. 'I've been in positions that I would never want my own daughters to be in.' But public opinion studies have documented an 'Iraq War hangover' driving anti-war attitudes among millennials, born between 1981 and 1996. A 2019 Ipsos study study tracking more than 16,000 millennials across 16 countries, including the U.S., found that three-quarters believed that most wars could be avoided. Respondents from war-affected countries were more hopeful than others that future wars could be avoided. But Haskel said that Iran poses a much graver threat today than Iraq did two decades ago. 'The two cases are extremely different,' she said, noting that Iran's advanced nuclear enrichment and ballistics missile programs have been well-documented by several international bodies and governments, and that they pose a 'double existential threat' to international security. Prior to this month's Israel and U.S.-led attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimated that Iran had enough raw material for nine nuclear weapons. Haskel said that the fear of a repeat of the disastrous Iraq war has made the U.S. and other Western countries too hesitant to use force against an intransigent Iran. 'We've seen in recent years, and because of (Iraq), how the international community have been chasing up a diplomatic solution,' said Haskel. 'But unfortunately, this enemy that you're facing was growing to a monstrous size while deceiving the international community.' Iran signed what looked to be a breakthrough nuclear deal with the U.S. and other world powers in 2015, but it has repeatedly violated the terms of this agreement. The IAEA reported in 2023 that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium was 30 times more than the maximum permitted under the agreement. Haskell encourages younger adults who were hung up on the surface-level similarities to 2003 invasion of Iraq to take a longer view of history. 'I would try and lead them to spend a little less time on social media and read a few more history books. In particular, books about the years leading up to the Second World War,' said Haskell. 'When people say that history repeats itself, it's very clear during these times as well … the European countries (after the First World War) were so desperate to avoid another world war that they tried to convince themselves that what the Nazis were saying wasn't really what they were saying.' One prominent politician who's given voice to his generation's war-skeptical sentiment is 40-year-old U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Vance, who was deployed to Iraq in 2005, later called the war 'disastrous.' He's since called for the U.S. to limit its exposure to foreign conflicts, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine . The vice president said over the weekend, after the U.S. bombed three Iranian nuclear sites , that the U.S. was not at war with Iran but ' with Iran's nuclear program .' Haskel said she didn't have a problem with Vance's description of the U.S.'s involvement in Iran. 'I think you should ask the Americans to make the Americans' case,' said Haskel. National Post rmohamed@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Sky News AU
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Gobsmacked by the level of amateurishness': Liberal Senator Dave Sharma calls out Albanese government's initial response to US strikes against Iran
Liberal Senator and Australia's former ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma, has called out the Albanese government's reaction to United States strikes on Iran, saying he was 'gobsmacked' by the response. Following the strikes authorised by the Trump administration on Sunday, the government's initial response came via a statement, issued by a spokesperson, which did not overtly express support for the move. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese then confirmed a day after the US action he did support efforts which prevented Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Senator Sharma expressed dismay over the initial statement provided, saying he thought it was 'very likely' the Albanese government was pressured by the US to publicly back a move conducted by an ally of Australia. 'I was gobsmacked by the level of amateurishness shown by the government yesterday to not have anyone significant front the media, to put out a bland, anodyne statement which said nothing, attributable to only a government spokesperson,' he told Sky News host Chris Kenny on Monday. He said the Australian public are 'rightly looking' to the government for the country's official stance on the conflict and what the US move means for Australians in the region. 'The government was absent from the field. I mean it's amateurish,' Senator Sharma said. The Senator said he imagined Washington may have began asking questions of Canberra following the Albanese government's initial response. Mr Albanese on Monday maintained the statement issued earlier was appropriate. 'The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, and we support action to prevent that — that is what this is,' he said at Parliament House in Canberra. 'The US action was directed at specific sites central to Iran's nuclear program. We don't want escalation and a full-scale war. Meanwhile, Israel Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said Australia's official backing of the US's action against Iran's nuclear program is 'better late than never, obviously'. Speaking from Tel Aviv shortly before a warning siren began blaring, Ms Haskel told Sky News on Monday evening Australia remains a 'close ally' of Israel. 'There's a very close friendship and I think that these are historical times, and it's important to act. Not just words, but actions are more important,' Ms Haskel said. Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister continued talking to Sky News host Chris Kenny while her and many others made their way to a bomb shelter located inside a synagogue after sirens indicating incoming Iranian strikes were activated. 'As you can see, live, this is our bombing shelter. We have many people here who have been hiding in order to keep safe from the missile attack. This is Iran targeting civilian populations directly,' Ms Haskel said.
Sky News AU
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Iran targeting civilian populations in Israel ‘on purpose': Sharren Haskel
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel accuses Iran of firing missiles to 'target' civilian populations in Israel. 'Iran is firing into civilian populations on purpose, it is targeting civilian populations,' Ms Haskel told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'We are targeting military facilities, nuclear military facilities, their ballistic missile program. 'What they're doing, they are firing rockets into cities like this.'
