Calls to rebuild ties whoever leads Israel

With both blocs talking up their chances of forming government after Israel’s election but no side near a 61-seat majority according to exit polls on Wednesday morning, Australian Jewish and political figures have called for the bilateral relationship to be repaired whoever ends up in office.

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein told The AJN that a strong relationship with Israel was in Australia’s national interest, and that the damage done could not be brushed aside.

He pointed to Australia’s “premature recognition of a Palestinian state in the aftermath of October 7”, and to repeated one-sided condemnation and punitive measures directed at Israel while the Palestinian Authority was largely given a free pass.

“There is considerable onus now on this Australian Government and DFAT to take concrete steps to rebuild trust and demonstrate through actions, not just words,” Rubenstein said.

That meant more realistically addressing Israel’s security concerns, taking a more balanced and principled approach, and holding the PA accountable for its commitments, he said.

Liberal senator Dave Sharma said Australia’s relationship with Israel was at its lowest level in decades, “The result of wilful damage and mismanagement by Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

“For the sake of Australia’s national interests, the Labor Government must engage a new Israeli government early and take positive steps to restore the relationship,” he said.

Wong’s office declined to comment for this story.

Israeli Ambassador Hillel Newman cautioned a Sydney community forum earlier this month against expecting a change of leader to shift anything.

“There are many who say … if Netanyahu goes, then perhaps things will be better in the relationship,” he said.

“But the truth is that the policies won’t change, even if Eisenkot is prime minister. He will not recognise a Palestinian state. He won’t be against settlements.”

Days before the vote, Aviv Ezra, head of the Asia and Pacific division of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, told journalists in Jerusalem that the relationship was “affected”, calling Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian State “dramatically wrong”, The Australian reported. The masthead quoted Australian-born Israeli diplomat Mark Regev describing relations as being at crisis level.

As exit poll results rolled in on Wednesday morning, Australian Jewish Association president Robert Gregory observed that Likud appeared to have emerged as the largest party, but said the next government would depend on final results and coalition negotiations.

“Many who have prematurely written off ‘Bibi’ over the years have been sorely disappointed,” Gregory said.

He noted the particularly high turnout among Arab Israeli voters as “a powerful reminder that Arab citizens participate in Israel’s democratic system and can influence its political future”, contrasting it with the PA, where Mahmoud Abbas was elected in 2005 to a four-year term and remains in office 21 years later.

Should neither bloc reach 61 seats, Newman said at the forum, the composition of any coalition would matter more than its leader. In previous elections the centre parties boycotted Netanyahu, leaving him no option but to govern with the far-right.

“If they don’t boycott him, and they’re prepared to come in a national unity government, then [far-right Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar] Ben Gvir might not be part of the coalition,” he said.

“That makes a big difference from the world opinion aspect.”