Diplomatic Firestorm: Netanyahu Accuses Australian PM of ‘Betrayal’ Amid Visa Spat

A significant diplomatic rift has erupted between Israel and Australia, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today launching a scathing attack on his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese. Netanyahu accused Albanese of “betraying Israel” and abandoning Australia’s Jewish community, declaring that history would remember him as a “weak politician.”

The sharp escalation follows days of growing tension. Earlier this week, Australia barred a far-right member of Netanyahu’s ruling coalition from entering the country. In a retaliatory move, Israel subsequently revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority.

Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke responded on Wednesday, asserting that Netanyahu was “lashing out” over Canberra’s recent announcement to join the UK, France, and Canada in recognizing a Palestinian state. Burke emphasized that “Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many people you can leave hungry.”

Prime Minister Albanese, addressing reporters, stated he does not “take these things personally” and affirmed his commitment to treating other leaders with respect and engaging diplomatically. The Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid, also weighed in, criticizing Netanyahu’s remarks as a “gift” to the Australian leader, suggesting such confrontations only strengthen leaders in the democratic world against a “politically toxic” Netanyahu.

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