Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, had abandoned Australia’s Jewish community and betrayed Israel, a statement that could further strain already tested diplomatic relations amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s comment followed Israel’s revocation of the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority on Monday, after a decision by Canberra to recognise a Palestinian state and cancel the visa of an Israeli lawmaker.
Diplomatic Rift
Israel’s foreign minister announced on Monday that visas granted to Australian diplomats working with the Palestinian Authority had been revoked, a move taken in response to Canberra’s recognition of a Palestinian state and its cancellation of an Israeli lawmaker’s visa.
The Australian government said it had cancelled the visa of a lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition who has advocated against Palestinian statehood and called for Israel to annexe the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Australia’s ambassador to Israel had been informed that the visas of representatives to the Palestinian Authority had been revoked.
Like many countries, Australia maintains an embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv and a representative office to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Netanyahu Slams Albanese
“History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews,” Netanyahu said on the official prime minister’s X account in English.
The Israeli lawmaker had been due to meet with Australia’s Jewish community, which has faced a sharp rise in antisemitic attacks since the beginning of Israel’s war with Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, almost two years ago.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Monday called Israel’s visa revocation counter-step an “unjustified reaction” and said Netanyahu’s government was increasing Israel’s diplomatic isolation.
Israel has been facing mounting international pressure over the toll its military offensive has taken on the civilian population in the shattered Gaza Strip.
‘In Denial’
Albanese said on August 12 that Netanyahu was “in denial” about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Albanese made his remark a day after announcing Australia may recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, following France, Britain and Canada.
Netanyahu has said this would serve as a reward for Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the Gaza war.
(With inputs from Reuters)
