Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, has revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority, escalating tensions after the Albanese government cancelled the visa of a far-right Israeli politician and announced plans to recognise Palestinian statehood. In a post to X on Monday night; cited by The Guardian, Gideon Sa’ar said the decision was made following Australia’s cancellation of Simcha Rothman’s visa ahead of his speaking tour this month. “While antisemitism is raging in Australia, including manifestations of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions, the

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, has revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority, escalating tensions after the Albanese government cancelled the visa of a far-right Israeli politician and announced plans to recognise Palestinian statehood. In a post to X on Monday night; cited by

The Guardian,

Gideon Sa’ar said the decision was made following Australia’s cancellation of Simcha Rothman’s visa ahead of his speaking tour this month. “While antisemitism is raging in Australia, including manifestations of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions, the Australian government is choosing to fuel it by false accusations, as if the visit of Israeli figures will disrupt public order and harm Australia’s Muslim population,” Sa’ar said. “It is shameful and unacceptable!” Sa’ar also instructed the Israeli embassy in Canberra to “carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel”. The escalation came shortly after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia would recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, as part of a two-state solution following new commitments by the Palestinian Authority. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move, calling it “disappointing” and “shameful”.

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Australia’s representatives to Palestine are based in Ramallah in the West Bank. Palestine’s foreign ministry denounced Israel’s move in the “strongest terms”, describing the revocation of visas as “illegal” and evidence of “Israeli arrogance and a state of political imbalance”. Rothman, a member of the Religious Zionism party in Netanyahu’s governing coalition, had been due to appear in Sydney and Melbourne at solidarity events for Jewish Australians next weekend. The far-right politician is a great opponent of a two-state solution and has previously called for Israel to fully annex the West Bank. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed Rothman’s visa was cancelled after questions were raised to his office on Friday. “Our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division,” Burke said. “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.” Rothman later accused the Albanese government of “clear and blatant antisemitism” in a Hebrew post on X shortly after the decision. Rothman is a vocal critic of Palestinian statehood and has backed Donald Trump’s proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza. In a May interview with the UK’s

Channel 4

, he described Palestinian children as “enemies” and argued they should not be allowed to seek refuge in Israel, reports

The Guardian

. “They are our enemies and according to international treaties about refugees in the time of war, you don’t let them conquer your country with refugees,” Rothman said. Burke has also previously barred the entry of other controversial figures, including rapper Kanye West, US law professor Khaled Beydoun, and former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked.

The Guardian

reports it has contacted the office of Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and the Israeli embassy in Australia for comment.  

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