Israeli deputy foreign minister sets conditions for repairing Australia ties 

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel has set out two specific conditions for repairing the damaged diplomatic relationship between Australia and Israel.

She wants to see Canberra addressing antisemitism in Australian society and changing what she called biased rhetoric against the Jewish state.

She was responding to a question from the Australian Jewish News on a Zoom video appearance for the right leaning Australian Jewish Association.

The deputy minister insisted that both steps are essential for improving relations, which have deteriorated amid tit-for-tat visa restrictions.

“There’s two major steps that need to happen in order for relations to improve,” Haskel stated.

The first step involves changing Australia’s diplomatic rhetoric on Israel.
“The rhetoric in regards to Israel, that’s been extremely  biased. It’s been one-sided. It was very much  pro-Palestinian,” she said.

“In some cases, they’ve really turned their back on us during a time of need. You expect friends to stand beside you during a time of need.”

The second step, which Haskel described as even more urgent, requires Australia to take serious action against antisemitism.

“Start dealing with the in-depth problem of antisemitism in Australia, not promoting it, not inflating it, not using rhetoric that can somehow justify it,” she said.

Haskel called for Australian authorities to begin “really enforcing the law and protecting the Jewish community.”

“I think that’s the most important step, at least for me, to see a sincere change of approach,” she said.

The deputy minister expressed particular concern about violence against Australia’s Jewish community, describing it as “one of our major topics right now.”
However, she expressed pessimism about immediate progress.

“Right now I don’t see yet serious steps towards it, unfortunately,” she said.

The diplomatic tensions escalated after Australia denied entry visas to Israeli activist Hilel Fuld and politician Simcha Rothman.

Israel responded by cancelling visas for Australian diplomats working with the Palestinian Authority.

Haskel suggested internal Australian politics is driving the government’s position, specifically citing pressure from “the radical side of the Labour Party.”

The deputy minister noted that Israel’s Foreign Ministry takes responsibility not just for Israelis but also for Jewish communities worldwide.

“We might be the smallest people in the world, but we are the biggest family in the world,” she said.