Israel-Australia diplomatic rift deepens as Netanyahu criticises Albanese

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews”, in comments which seem likely to further deepen a serious diplomatic rift between the two countries.

On Monday, the Australian government announced the revocation of a visa for Simcha Rothman, a representative of the far-right Mafdal-Religious Zionist party and a Member of Knesset. Tony Burke, Australia’s Foreign Minsiter, said that “our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division…If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don’t want you here.”

In response, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar announced that he had decided to revoke the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority and instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel. Sa’ar directly linked this to Australia’s “unjustified refusal” to grant visa to politicians such as Rotman and former Israeli Minister Ayelet Shaked, as well as Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.

Sa’ar said that “while antisemitism is raging in Australia, including manifestations of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions, the Australian government is choosing to fuel it by false accusations, as if the visit of Israeli figures will disrupt public order and harm Australia’s Muslim population. It is shameful and unacceptable!”

Last week, the Australian Prime Minister (who is not related to notorious UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese) announced that Australia would follow a number of other Western countries in plans to formally recognise a Palestinian state in September, following commitments he said he had received from the Palestinian Authority (PA) including to demilitarise, hold general elections and continue to recognise Israel’s right to exist.

According to ABC (the Australian Broadcasting Corporation), the letter cancelling Rothman’s visa cited examples of Mr Rothman claiming that children were not dying of hunger in Gaza, that those children were Israel’s enemies, and that the idea of a two-state solution had “poisoned the minds of the entire world”.

The Australian Jewish Association, which had invited Rothman to the country on his speaking tour, confirmed that the MK would instead be addressing an audience online, describing the Australian government’s visa ban decision as “the latest of many antisemitic attacks on the Australian Jewish community.”

Benny Gantz, Chair of Israel’s opposition Blue and White Party, condemned the Australian government’s decision, stating: “MK Rothman & I have stark political and ideological differences – yet Australia’s decision to bar him from entry is not only deeply misguided, but blatantly hypocritical. If only Australia fought the ravaging antisemitism targeting its Jewish communities with the same fervour it banned representatives from the one & only democracy in the Middle East.”

Yair Lapid, leader of Israel’s Yesh Atid opposition party, criticised Netanyahu’s decision to publicly call out the Australian Prime Minister, saying: “The thing that most strengthens a leader in the democratic world today is a confrontation with Netanyahu, the most politically toxic leader in the Western world. It’s unclear why Bibi is rushing to give the Australian Prime Minister this gift.”