Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slams Anthony Albanese as ‘weak’ over ‘betrayal of Australia’s Jews’

Israel’s Prime Minister has blasted Anthony Albanese as “weak” as a decision by the Federal Government to revoke visas spilled into a second day.

Hours after Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong described as “un-justified” Israel’s retaliatory decision to revoke visas of Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority, Mr Netanyahu took to social media to warn history would “remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews”.

The Opposition renewed claims our relationship with Israel had never been worse.

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said the decision was made after the Albanese government on Monday cancelled Israeli politician Simcha Rothman’s visa ahead of his speaking tour this month.

“While anti-semitism 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,” Mr Sa’ar said, in a statement posted to X.

Mr Rothman, who is a Knesset MP for the National Religious Party — part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition — had been granted a visa a fortnight ago but it was revoked one day before he was due to arrive in Australia.

Senator Wong insisted the government had a right to safeguard communities.

“This is an unjustified reaction,” she said on Tuesday.

“Australia welcomes different races, religions and views, united by respect for each other’s humanity and for each other’s right to live in peace.

“We safeguard our communities and protect all Australians from hate and harm.

“At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution.”

It comes after Senator Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last Monday revealed Australia would join international momentum to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September.

Mr Sa’ar said his call to revoke visas came “against the backdrop of Australia’s unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures”, also listing former Minister Ayelet Shaked.

He also said he’d instructed Israel’s embassy in Canberra to “carefully examine” any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel and that he had notified the Australian ambassador to Israel of the decision.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement on Monday the government was taking 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,” he said.

“Under our Government, Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe and feel safe.”

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson said Australia’s relationship with Israel had slumped to a new low under the Albanese government and the expulsion was “extremely regrettable”.

“There’s no question that Australia’s bilateral relationship with Israel is the worst it has ever been since the creation of the state of Israel following World War II,” the Liberal senator told ABC on Tuesday morning.

“The expulsion, effectively, of our diplomats from the West Bank, is extremely regrettable.”

Senator Paterson said while he wasn’t familiar with all Mr Rothman’s views and would likely disagree with some, it was a “very big call to block the visa of a visiting member of parliament”.

“It’s a very big call to block the visa of a visiting member of parliament from another country,” he said.

“This is not a decision to be taken lightly, and all the implications should have been considered, and it’s not clear that that occurred.”

Shadow foreign affairs minister Michaelia Cash described the visa kerfuffle as a “mishandling” of Australia’s relationship with Israel.

“The Coalition has serious concerns about the Albanese Government’s reasons for cancelling the visa of Israeli parliamentarian Simcha Rothman and the escalating diplomatic consequences this reckless action has triggered,” she said.

She said it would be “extraordinary” for Home Affairs to block Mr Rothman’s entry into Australia because of his advocacy for the elimination of listed terrorist organisation Hamas.

“To suggest that calls for the destruction of Hamas are ‘inflammatory’ or grounds for visa cancellation is absurd,” she said.

“Hamas is an internationally recognised terror group, and standing against them should never be seen as controversial.”

National Party leader David Littleproud also said he wasn’t satisfied with Minister Burke’s decision or explanation for revoking the visa.

“This is a worrying development that I think Tony Burke, firstly, needs to give the full list of reasons as to why this visa was cancelled so that there is transparency,” he told Sky on Tuesday,

“Ultimately, let’s not sugarcoat it. The reality is, it’s because of the actions of this government that has recognised… wants to recognise a Palestinian state before they’re ready.”

The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel’s decision to revoke the visas, labelling it an “arbitrary measure”.

It said the move was “illegal and in violation of the Geneva Conventions, international law, and United Nations resolutions, which do not grant the occupying power such authority”.

The Ministry added that “such measures reflect Israeli arrogance and a state of political imbalance” and it would only increase Australia’s and other nations’ determination to recognise the State of Palestine sooner.

The Australian Jewish Association chief executive labelled Mr Burke’s blocking of Mr Rothman as a “viciously antisemitic move” from a government “obsessed with targeting the Jewish community and Israel”.

“This government has a track record of cancelling the visas of Jewish and Israeli visitors, including Ayelet Shaked and Hillel Fuld.”

It comes after Mr Burke also cancelled a visa of a Palestinian woman, Mona Zahed, who thanked Allah for keeping her alive long enough to witness Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on a music festival.