A professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the Australian National University is issuing not-very-veiled threats against Australia. Why are the Muslims of the world, normally the most peaceful of people, so enraged at Australia? Because the SAS destroyed Iraqi missile sites that could have attacked Israel: Arabs enraged by SAS role.

AUSTRALIAN special forces were now a target for Palestinian suicide bombers because they had destroyed Iraqi missile sites, from which missiles could have hit Israel, a leading analyst warned yesterday.

Not only were the special forces at increased risk, but Australia had unwittingly raised its profile as a terrorist target through publicity of SAS exploits, said professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the Australian National University, Amin Saikal.

The Australian role in taking out Iraqi scud missiles that could have launched attacks on Israel had been widely reported throughout the Arab world’s media and condemned in newspaper commentaries.

“The role of Australian forces in protecting Israel has caused extreme anger throughout the Arab world,” Professor Saikal said.

“Australia, either wittingly or unwittingly, has become a very obvious target of discontent for Arabs and Muslims.

“If it is true that a number of Palestinian Fedayeen or suicide bombers have moved into Iraq, you can expect these volunteers to focus very much on the forces which they have suspected of engaging in activities designed to protect Israel.

“That doesn’t mean they are going to succeed, but it means that now they have become aware of the fact that Australian special forces have been operating in the defence of Israel.”