The Australian government has denounced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s provocative remarks and accused certain Israeli politicians of harboring prejudiced views towards Palestinians, intensifying the bitter political feud between the two countries.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who previously refused a travel visa for far-right Knesset member Simcha Rothman amidst criticism from Jerusalem, supported his decision and criticized Netanyahu over the Gaza War, where a large number of Palestinian civilians have perished due to Israel’s military and bombing operations.
“Strength is not measured by the number of people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry,” Burke stated on Radio National.
He praised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for taking a stand when decisions are made that Israel may not agree with, emphasizing that true strength lies in diplomacy, not aggression.
Netanyahu, however, escalated the confrontation with Australia, condemning Albanese on social media and accusing him of being a weak politician who betrayed Israel and let down Australia’s Jews, a statement that drew widespread attention.
In a letter, Netanyahu accused Albanese of fueling anti-Semitic sentiments and criticized Australia’s recognition of Palestine, labeling it as appeasement. He claimed that Jew-hatred is now prevalent in Australian streets.
The tensions have escalated significantly between the countries, largely due to Australia’s promise to recognize a Palestinian state. Following the cancellation of Rothman’s visa due to his past comments calling children in Gaza Israel’s enemies, Israel revoked the visas of Australian delegates to the Palestinian Authority.
Burke confirmed that his decision to deny Rothman’s visa was in response to the politician’s statements about children and aimed at safeguarding Palestinian and Muslim Australians. He reiterated that protecting people from bigoted views is paramount.
Other political figures, including Clare O’Neil, found Netanyahu’s comments disappointing, emphasizing that such diplomatic strategies are unproductive and do not align with Australia’s approach.
The opposition views the government’s actions as damaging to the relationship with Israel, a sentiment shared by shadow home affairs minister Andrew Hastie who believes the government’s decision was a mistake.
Overall, the political exchange features a fusion of defiance, diplomatic nuances, and differing views on international relations and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/20/australia-israel-tony-burke-netanyahu
