Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Anthony Albanese of “betraying Israel” and “abandoning” Australia’s Jewish community, escalating a bitter diplomatic row between the two nations.
Mr Netanyahu launched the attack on Tuesday, declaring history would remember Mr Albanese “for what he is: a weak politician”.
The remarks followed Canberra’s decision to cancel the visa of far-right Israeli MP Simcha Rothman, who was due to visit Australia this week to speak at events organised by the Australian Jewish Association. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the move, saying Australia 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,” Mr Burke told Sky News.
In response, Israel revoked visas granted to Australian officials working with the Palestinian Authority and warned that future applications would be scrutinised. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Canberra of fuelling antisemitism, despite what he described as “raging” attacks against Jewish communities and institutions in Australia in recent months.
The clash comes after Australia announced earlier this month that it would formally recognise a Palestinian state in September — aligning with similar moves by the UK, France and Canada. Mr Albanese argued at the time that Israel’s Prime Minister was “in denial” about the humanitarian toll of the Gaza conflict.
“The stopping of aid that we’ve seen and then the loss of life that we’re seeing around those aid distribution points, where people queuing for food and water are losing their lives, is just completely unacceptable,” he said.
Mr Netanyahu has also attacked his Western counterparts who recognised Palestine — including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian leader Mark Carney — accusing them of siding with “mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers”.
Israel’s Opposition Leader Yair Lapid criticised Mr Netanyahu’s comments about Mr Albanese, describing them as a political “gift” to the Australian Prime Minister.
“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,” Mr Lapid posted on X.
The state of Palestine is currently recognised by 147 of the 193 United Nations member states.
In response, Australia lashed Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Aug 20 after he said the country’s prime minister was weak, with a top minister saying strength was more than “how many people you can blow up”.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Aug 20 it was the sign of a frustrated leader “lashing out”.
“Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry. Strength is much better measured by exactly what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done,” he told ABC Radio National on Wednesday.
Mr Burke said he had a responsibility to not “hold out a welcome mat” to people with extreme views.
“One of them has described Palestinian children as the enemy, and the other has described Palestinian children as little snakes – as little snakes,” he said.
“Now, if anyone wanted to come on a public speaking tour and they had those views publicly expressed about Israeli children, I would block the visa, and I’m going to not have a lower bar for the protection of views that are bigoted views against the Palestinian people.”
