In a rare Australian media interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s “record is forever tarnished by the weakness that he’s shown in the face of these Hamas terrorist monsters”, criticising the Australian government’s decision to recognise Palestinian statehood in September.
Speaking to Sky News, Netanyahu said the decision of Western nations, such as Australia, France and the UK, to recognise a Palestinian state is tantamount to “rewarding terror”.
Diplomatic ties between Australia and Israel hit an all-time low this week after the federal government denied a visa to far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman from entering the country for a speaking tour, following provocative comments.
Israel retaliated by cancelling the visas of three Australian diplomats who cover the Palestinian Authority, a decision Foreign Minister Penny Wong said was “unjustified”.
Earlier this week, Home Affairs minister Tony Burke hit back, saying strength was “not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry”.
Burke said Israel was increasingly isolated on the international stage, after Albanese said last week that Netanyahu was “in denial” about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Read more: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/benjamin-netanyahu-criticises-anthony-albanese/xe4p13oxa
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