Netanyahu says Australian PM has deserted the Jewish community
Tensions between Israel and Australia have been made apparent through a remark from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Al-Monitor via Reuters on August 19th.
On August 19th, Netanyahu said that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had deserted Australia’s Jewish community by betraying Israel, a declaration that may weaken diplomatic ties between Israel and Australia.
Netanyahu made this remark following Israel’s revocation of the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority on August 18th. This was after a decision by Canberra to recognise Palestinian statehood and cancel the visa of an Israeli lawmaker.
“History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews,” Netanyahu wrote on the official prime minister’s X account in English.
Netanyahu had been due to meet with Australia’s Jewish community. The community has faced a heightened number in antisemitic attacks due to Israel’s war with Palestinian militant group, Hamas, in Gaza.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke on August 18th regarding the matter. She said Israel’s visa revocation counter-step is an “unjustified reaction.” She further said that Netanyahu’s government was worsening Israel’s diplomatic alienation.
Israel has been facing increasing pressure internationally over the severe destruction inflicted by its military offensive. This has caused devastating consequences, and has caused deaths within the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
Albanese stressed on August 12th that Netanyahu was “in denial” about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
This comment was made a day after declaring that Australia may recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, following in the footsteps of France, Britain and Canada. The Australian Prime Minister said “ever since the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th 2023, Australia has stood with the people of Israel and our partners and allies around the world in calling for the release of the hostages.” He also added that “a two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and bring an end to the conflict, suffering, and starvation in Gaza.”Â
Netanyahu has said this would only serve as a reward for Hamas’ October 7th 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the Gaza war. The UK dismissed this claim.Â
Al-Monitor via Reuters, Maghrebi.org
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