Opposition slams government over Israeli diplomat crisis

The Coalition has strongly criticised the Albanese Government’s handling of relations with Israel after the cancellation of Knesset member Simcha Rothman’s visa triggered the expulsion of three Australian diplomats.

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

“It is extraordinary that Home Affairs documents, as reported in the media, reveal the stated reasons for blocking Mr Rothman’s entry into Australia was in part his advocacy for the elimination of Hamas – a listed terrorist organisation,” Cash said.

“To suggest that calls for the destruction of Hamas are ‘inflammatory’ or grounds for visa cancellation is absurd.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned Israel’s decision to expel the Australian diplomats as an “unjustified reaction” following Australia’s ban on Rothman entering the country.