Australia has quietly moved Austrade staff from the office in West Jerusalem to Tel Aviv but continues Israel trade despite the genocide – while DFAT condemns “unfair targeting” of Israel by the United Nations. Stephanie Tran reports.
More than 350 Palestinians have been slain since the Israel-Hamas ‘ceasefire’ last month and tensions continue to rise in the West Bank amid extra-judicial killings and other international law violations including repeated ceasefire violations in Lebanon yet Australia is continuing to deepen its trade and defence ties with Israel, dodging questions about the defence trade office in West Jerusalem.
The West Jerusalem Trade and Defence Office, established under the Morrison government in 2019, had remained operational until recently. The office promoted defence cooperation, investment and commercial opportunities between the two countries, despite ongoing proceedings at the ICJ and UN findings of genocide and systematic human rights violations by Israel.
An Austrade spokesperson told MWM, “Austrade no longer operates an office in Jerusalem – Austrade staff work from the Embassy in Tel Aviv”. However, they have not said when the Jerusalem office was closed or why.
Former Australian Human Rights Commissioner Chris Sidoti, who was a member of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Palestine and Israel, said it was “scandalous” that the government continued operating the office while Israel stands accused of genocide.
Source: SuppressedNews, X
“To have that office still operating and promoting defence cooperation is nothing short of scandalous. It is absolutely scandalous that under these circumstances, we are promoting defence cooperation between Australia and Israel,” he said.
A new lease
According to Austender data, Austrade paid WeWork Israel $218,115 between March 2019 and June 2025 to lease office space for the trade and defence mission. The lease was renewed again in July 2025 for a further $26,185, extending its operation to at least December 2025.
That month, it was revealed that the Israeli weapons company, which has commercial dealings with the Australian government, was promoting its wares with footage of the IDF slaughtering Palestinians.
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The office was announced by Scott Morrison shortly after the government controversially declared formal recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, although Australia stopped short of moving its embassy from Tel Aviv.
Documents from the period show the West Jerusalem Trade and Defence Office was designed to expand collaboration in defence research, cybersecurity, and commercial defence exports.
Austrade declined to respond to questions as to whether it considered it appropriate to maintain a defence-promotion office while Israel stood accused by UN and multiple human rights organisations of genocide, unlawful killing of civilians, mass destruction of civilian infrastructure and systematic violations of humanitarian law.
DFAT condemns UN for “unfairly targeting” Israel
Despite the ICJ’s provisional measures and the UN Commission of Inquiry’s finding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to defend Israel.
According to the Israel country brief on DFAT’s website, “Australia is strongly opposed to unfair targeting of Israel in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions”.
DFAT maintains that “Australia continues to broaden bilateral cooperation with Israel. In recent years, there has been significantly increased engagement across a range of sectors, including innovation, security and defence.”
We asked DFAT to clarify the meaning of these statements and provide examples of how Israel has been unfairly targeted by the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.
DFAT declined to comment.
Trade with Israel protected by confidentiality provisions
Trade statistics between Australia and Israel remain heavily obscured by confidentiality clauses in ABS reporting.
In 2024:
- Australia exported $69.1 million in “Confidential items of trade” to Israel.
- A further $27 million in exports was classified as “Other services – details not provided”.
- Israel exported $70 million in similarly non-disclosed “other services” to Australia.
Overall, Australia imported $893.2 million in goods and services from Israel in 2024, and exported $327.6 million.
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Ducking for cover
MWM put the following questions to DFAT, Austrade, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.
All parties contacted declined to provide a response to the questions, although DFAT belatedly responded that Austrade staff in the East Jerusalem office had been moved to the embassy in Tel Aviv.
- According to the Israel country brief on DFAT’s website, “Australia is strongly opposed to unfair targeting of Israel in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions”. What is meant by this statement? How has Israel been unfairly targeted by the United Nations and other multilateral institutions?
- In his National Press Club address, former Australian Human Rights Commissioner Chris Sidoti, who was a member of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Palestine and Israel said that it is a “scandal” that Australia’s Trade and Defence Office in West Jerusalem is still operating in light of the UN Commission’s finding that Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide in Gaza. Why has Austrade not moved to close the West Jerusalem Trade and Defence Office? Is is appropriate to maintain an office that promotes defence cooporation between Australia and Israel in light of the UN’s finding that the state of Israel has committed human rights violations, war crimes and genocide against the Palestinian population?
- In 2015, Australia established a “Landing Pad” in Tel Aviv. Is Australia’s “Landing Pad” in Tel Aviv still operational? If not, when was this office closed and what were the reasons underpinning this decision?
- According to ABS data, in 2024 Australia exported $69.1 million in “Confidential items of trade” to Israel. What is the nature of these exports and why are they confidential?
- In 2024, Australia imported $70 million in “Other services – details not provided”. What is the nature of these services and why have the details of these services not been provided?
- Last month, Declassified Australia reported that 68 shipments of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft parts were flown from Australia directly to Israel between October 2023 and September 2025. Why is Australia continuing to supply F-35 parts to Israel despite extensive evidence that F-35 jets have been used in the indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza?
- Under the Genocide Convention, states have an obligation to prevent and punish genocide. The obligation to prevent genocide was triggered in January 2024 when the International Court of Justice ruled that it is “plausible” that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Chris Sidoti has said that there is a “very real risk” that Australia is breaching its international legal obligations under the Genocide Convention by continuing to maintain trade and defence ties to the state of Israel. What due diligence has DFAT done to ensure that Australia’s trade with Israel is not assisting in the commission of genocide and crimes against humanity?
- In October 2017, Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on defence industry cooperation with Israel and in January 2019 Australia and Israel signed a MOU on cyber security cooperation. What are the obligations under these MOUs and is Australia considering terminating these MOUs in light of the UN’s findings?
Editor’s Note: an earlier version of this story said the East Jerusalem office was operating. A response from DFAT however said the office was “no longer operational” but provided no reasons for the change or when it had occurred.
Stephanie is a journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that hold power to account. With a background in both law and journalism, she has worked at The Guardian and as a paralegal, where she assisted Crikey’s defence team in the high-profile defamation case brought by Lachlan Murdoch. Her reporting has been recognised nationally, earning her the 2021 Democracy’s Watchdogs Award for Student Investigative Reporting and a nomination for the 2021 Walkley Student Journalist of the Year Award.