Israel Revokes Visas for Australian Diplomats After Canberra Bars Far-Right Israeli Politician Over “Hate and Division Concerns” Against Palestinians
Canberra (Quds News Network)- Israel has revoked the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority, following a decision by Canberra to recognise a Palestinian state and cancel the visa of an Israeli lawmaker who has described Palestinian children in Gaza as “enemies”.
Earlier, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced that Simcha Rothman, a Knesset member from the Religious Zionism party and part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, was scheduled to appear at public events in Sydney and Melbourne in August, along with two private gatherings
The events were organised by the right-leaning Australian Jewish Association.
“Our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division,” Burke said in a statement. “If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don’t want you here.”
Who’s Rothman?
Rothman party’s leader is the finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who was sanctioned by the Albanese government in June alongside Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Rothman has also supported Donald Trump’s plan to forcibly displaced Palestinians from Gaza.
In a May interview with the UK’s Channel 4, he claimed children within Gaza were “enemies” who should not be allowed to flee into Israel as “you don’t let them conquer your country with refugees”.
“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.
Rothman was one of a handful of Knesset members who initiated a symbolic motion in July to “apply” Israel’s sovereignty to the occupied West Bank territory. The motion passed 71-13.
In a social media post shortly after, Rothman said applying Israel’s sovereignty to the occupied territory would make it clear to the world that the land belongs to the people of Israel “today, tomorrow and forever”.
Rothman is also the architect of a bill to formally change all references to the West Bank in legislation to the Israeli name, Judea and Samaria.
“Unjustified Reaction”
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Australia’s ambassador to Israel had been informed that the visas of representatives to the Palestinian Authority had been revoked.
“I also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel,” Saar wrote on X.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called Israel’s decision an “unjustified reaction”.
“At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu Government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution,” Wong said in a statement.
The Palestinian foreign ministry issued a statement condemning Israel’s decision as illegal and “in violation of international law.
Australia is set to recognise a Palestinian state next month, a move it says it hopes will contribute to international momentum towards a two-state solution and a ceasefire in Gaza.
