Benjamin Netanyahu has launched an extraordinary broadside against Anthony Albanese, labelling Australia\u2019s prime minister \u201cweak\u201d in a social media post, hours after local Jewish groups called for calm in diplomatic relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistory will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia\u2019s Jews,\u201d read a post on X<\/a> from the account of Israel\u2019s prime minister, on Tuesday evening Australian time.<\/p>\n Albanese\u2019s office was approached for comment.<\/p>\n It came shortly after Australia\u2019s peak Jewish group urged composure on Tuesday as Israel\u2019s foreign minister warned of \u201cadditional measures\u201d against Australia amid a diplomatic \u201ctit-for-tat\u201d over visa cancellations.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are real-life consequences here and we want to see the countries work through any issues before things get out of hand,\u201d said Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australia Jewry.<\/p>\n The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa\u2019ar, accused the Albanese government of \u201cchoosing to fuel\u201d antisemitism after cancelling the visa of the far-right Israeli politician<\/a> Simcha Rothman ahead of his planned speaking tour in Sydney and Melbourne later this week.<\/p>\n Sa\u2019ar also announced he would revoke the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority, in a move labelled \u201cunjustified\u201d<\/a> and \u201cundermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution\u201d by Australia\u2019s foreign minister, Penny Wong.<\/p>\n The escalating diplomatic row followed Australia\u2019s decision earlier this month to recognise a Palestinian state<\/a> at the UN general assembly in September after new commitments by the Palestinian Authority.<\/p>\n Rothman\u2019s visa was cancelled by the home affairs department on Monday, citing \u201can unacceptable risk\u201d to order in Australia and concern the member of Netanyahu\u2019s governing coalition would make \u201cinflammatory statements to promote his controversial views and ideologies\u201d.<\/p>\n Simcha Rothman (left) and Israel\u2019s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in the Knesset. Photograph: Amir Cohen\/Reuters<\/p>\n In a Hebrew-language video message shortly after his statement, Sa\u2019ar warned Australia was \u201cpersecuting Israel\u201d and his government would \u201ctake additional measures\u201d.<\/p>\n But Jewish groups in Australia called for cooler heads to prevail in light of the countries\u2019 \u201cextensive economic, scientific and cultural ties\u201d.<\/p>\n Ryvchin said both countries should end the \u201cdiplomatic tit-for-tat that erodes the goodwill and cooperation built up over decades\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cCalm heads need to take control of the situation otherwise there will be a risk to some $2bn dollars in bilateral trade, extensive investment in Australian start-ups, vital security cooperation and the Israeli-made medicine and medical technology that we all rely on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Australia\/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council said while it did not agree with many of Rothman\u2019s views, it found the decision to cancel his visa to be a \u201cdisturbing precedent\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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,\u201d the council said in a statement.<\/p>\n Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/a><\/p>\n The president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, told the Jewish Independent website<\/a> on Tuesday that Rothman\u2019s views were \u201cout of step with mainstream Israeli opinion and with the values of most Australian Jews\u201d.<\/p>\n But he criticised the decision to ban him, saying: \u201cIt 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 to set such a precedent.\u201d<\/p>\n The progressive Jewish Council of Australia supported the decision but questioned why Rothman had been granted a visa in the first place.<\/p>\n \u201cAs with Russia, members of Israel\u2019s ruling coalition parties should already be subject to sanctions by the Australian government, including Rothman,\u201d its spokesperson, Bart Shteinman, said.<\/p>\n \u201cIsrael\u2019s aggressive decision to retaliate to Rothman\u2019s visa refusal by expelling Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority is a major escalation in hostilities against Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it needed any further demonstration, Israel is not interested in maintaining a relationship with the Australian government and cares little what strong words or statements it issues.\u201d<\/p>\n The department cited Rothman\u2019s previous statements as part of its decision to revoke the visa they approved on 8 August.<\/p>\n