Israel demands action on diplomatic crisis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, until the Jewish New Year to take decisive action against rising antisemitism in Australia, as a diplomatic crisis escalates over the government’s decision to ban Religious Zionist Party MK Simcha Rothman from entering the country.

In a strongly worded letter to Albanese, Netanyahu set September 23 as the deadline for action, warning that “history will not forgive hesitation” and calling on Australia to “replace weakness with action, appeasement with resolve”.

“I am concerned with the alarming rise of antisemitism in Australia and the lack of decisive action by your government to confront it,” Netanyahu wrote.

“Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic fire. It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement. It rewards Hamas terror, hardens Hamas’s refusal to free the hostages, emboldens those who menace Australian Jews and encourages the Jew hatred now stalking your streets.”

The letter comes as Israel has expelled Australian diplomatic representatives and imposed comprehensive visa restrictions in direct retaliation for Australia’s decision to ban Rothman from visiting.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced the immediate revocation of residence permits for Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority operating in Israel, while implementing screening procedures for all Australian visa applications.

Rothman, who chairs the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and is a senior member of Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, has been banned from visiting Australia for three years.

In an exclusive interview with The AJN, Rothman revealed he received the cancellation email on the morning of his planned departure.

“I have to say, I was a little bit surprised, not because they banned my entry. I was afraid that a government that caves under terror will do so, even in my case, but I was a little bit surprised from the fact that the Australian government was not ashamed to put in writing that they are banning me because of quotes that represent the consensus in Israel.”

The government’s email to Rothman stated his “social media and public statements mirror the policies of the Religious Zionist Party, including the elimination of Hamas and the expansion and sovereignty of the Israeli state and denial of any wrong by Israel against Palestinian and Gaza during the current conflict”.

The email said Rothman’s presence in Australia might be “a risk to the good order of the Australian community, or a segment of the Australian community, namely the Islamic population”.

Rothman defended his positions as reflecting mainstream Israeli opinion.

“It’s not about an extremist view. It’s not about inflammatory quotes. It’s about me believing that Hamas is bad and Israel is good, and the world should stand with the side of good and against evil,” he said.

“It’s about me saying that Israel should eliminate Hamas. It’s about me saying that a Palestinian state would be a grave danger to Israel, and it would be a huge reward for terrorists. It’s for me saying that we should apply Israeli sovereignty. Now those are resolutions that the Knesset has passed.”

Rothman drew parallels with Israel’s experience with terrorism. “Israel has learned the lesson that appeasing terror is never a good idea, it always leads to more terror. And we learned this lesson with a very heavy price. Australia apparently did not learn the lesson.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the visa decision, saying his government would block anyone spreading “a message of hate and division”.

“If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don’t want you here. Under our government, Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe, and feel safe,” he said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned Israel’s decision to expel the Australian diplomats as an “unjustified reaction”.

“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,” Wong said.

The Coalition has strongly criticised the Albanese government’s handling of relations with Israel.

Shadow Foreign Minister Senator Michaelia Cash accused the government of “badly mismanaging” the relationship with Israel and called the escalating diplomatic consequences “reckless”.

The decision drew a mixed response from Australian Jewish leaders.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler described many of Rothman’s views as highly offensive and not reflecting the values of the Australian Jewish community or the mainstream Israeli public.

However, he said, “It is one thing to disagree strongly with an elected representative of a democracy and ally, it is quite another to deny them entry on that basis. Australia ought not set such a precedent.”

Director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Colin Rubenstein said the last-minute decision to deny Rothman a visa was deeply troubling.

“It is very disappointing that Australia and Israel have regressed from a close friendship to unproductive diplomatic jousting, which of course was started by unwarranted and hostile actions by the Australian government.”

Sa’ar’s office presented the retaliatory decisions to the Australian ambassador, citing Australia’s September decision to recognise a Palestinian state and its “unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures”.

“At a time when antisemitism is spreading in Australia, including acts of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions, the Australian government chooses to fuel it instead with false accusations, claiming that visits by Israeli figures would disrupt public order and harm Australia’s Muslim population,” Sa’ar stated.

Despite being unable to visit, Rothman had a message for Australian Jews.

“Israel is with you. We will always be with you. Of course, the State of Israel is committed to make sure Israel will always be available for Jews around the world, but also to help Jews that are in distress all around the world. And if I were an Australian Jew today, I would be worried.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said: “Allies with so many shared values and extensive economic, scientific and cultural ties, should not be engaging in an unseemly diplomatic tit-for-tat that erodes the friendship, goodwill and cooperation built up over decades, which benefits both countries.

“Australia and Israel are mature democracies and their governments need to speak and act accordingly … More diplomacy and less public posturing is called for.”