Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday responded firmly yet diplomatically, stating that he treats leaders of all nations with respect, following sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
“I don’t take these things personally, I engage with people diplomatically. He has had similar things to say about other leaders,” Albanese said during a media briefing.
‘A Weak Politician’
Netanyahu’s personal attack on Albanese has further strained diplomatic relations between the two nations, which have already been under pressure since Australia announced last week that it would conditionally recognise a Palestinian state during the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September.
“History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews,” Netanyahu said in a post on X on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician
who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 19, 2025
Decision Was Informed
Albanese told reporters that he had informed Netanyahu about Australia’s decision to support a Palestinian state before his centre-left government formally announced the plan.
“At that time, I gave Prime Minister Netanyahu a clear indication of my view and Australia’s view going forward but also a clear indication of the direction in which we were headed,” Albanese said. “I gave him the opportunity to outline what political solution there was and gave him that opportunity.”
Tit-For-Tat Diplomacy
Israel this week revoked the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority after Albanese’s Labor government cancelled the visa of an Israeli lawmaker over remarks the Australian government considered controversial and inflammatory.
Israel has been facing increasing international pressure over its military offensive in the Gaza Strip that has killed thousands of civilians and plunged Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, displacing most of its population.
The offensive began nearly two years ago after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 more hostage.
(With inputs from Reuters)
