Australia and Israel are currently engaged in a diplomatic dispute, each taking steps against officials from the other country. This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, claiming he has betrayed Israel. “Albanese will be remembered as a weak politician who abandoned not only Israel but also Australian Jews,” Netanyahu stated.
In an interesting move, Albanese announced last week that Australia would officially recognize Palestine during the UN General Assembly in September. This decision aligns with similar pledges made by countries like the UK, France, and Canada. Additionally, Australia has revoked the visa of Simcha Rothman, a member of the Religious Zionist Party and part of Netanyahu’s coalition. Rothman intended to visit Australia for a “solidarity tour” to connect with the local Jewish community.
Rothman’s visa cancellation struck at a particularly critical moment, causing notable upset. He was notified just as he was heading to the airport. One spokesperson remarked that the message from Albanese’s government was clear, urging Jews to reconsider visiting Australia under the current administration. Despite this setback, Aja, a member of the Australian Jewish community, managed to arrange for Rothman to address them via Zoom, asserting, “The show must go on” and, intriguingly, that “The Jews can’t win.”
Aja also expressed that instead of numerous smaller events, they would organize a large joint gathering to facilitate Rothman’s speech to the Jewish community.
In response to recent events, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced plans to revoke the visas for Australian representatives related to the Palestinian authorities. Furthermore, he advised the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully assess future visa applications from Australia. “Anti-Semitism is rampant in Australia, with violence escalating against the Jewish community. Yet, the Australian government seems to be exacerbating the issue with misleading claims about Israel’s influence on public order,” he stated.
Aja commended Saar’s actions, remarking that the severe rise in anti-Semitism under the Albanese government warranted a strong reaction.
Since the Hamas attacks on October 7, Australian Jews have experienced a significant rise in anti-Semitism. According to a report from the Australian Jewish Executive Council, there were 2,062 reported anti-Semitic incidents from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. This represents a staggering 316% increase compared to the previous year, which had recorded 495 incidents. The report notes a remarkable rise in physical assaults, up 491%, and verbal abuse, which increased by 230% during the same timeframe.
Responses from the AJA and Albanese’s offices to inquiries were not received in time for this report.
