Most recently, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has intensified his attack campaign against Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He describes Albanese as a “weak politician” who has “abandoned Australian Jews.” Netanyahu’s office shared this bizarre character hit video on social media today. This announcement came at the same time as Australia’s recent announcement that it would recognize a Palestinian state. That’s not the reaction we’ve seen to Netanyahu’s inflammatory remarks from most Jewish groups. Once again, key Jewish organizations in Australia are urging calm.
Through these letters, largely kept under wraps until now, Netanyahu expressed his discontent to Albanese and French President Emmanuel Macron. He stated that their leadership has contributed to a significant increase in antisemitism. His remarks bring into focus a more spreading concern about the state of the diplomatic relationship between Israel and Australia. This anxiety has only deepened in light of recent geopolitical events.
Digital Diplomacy and Public Critique
Netanyahu’s new approach perfectly reflects a diplomacy 2.0 fashion similar to the one used by the former U.S. president Donald Trump. His office further expressed their frustration on social media by calling out Australia for opposing recognition of a state of Palestine. This language came after Netanyahu and Albanese had a telephone conversation. This exchange apparently occurred only days before Australia’s not-so-public commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state.
In a pointed statement, Netanyahu’s office asserted, “History will remember Albanese for what he is: a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.” Such rhetoric further emphasizes the growing militarized tensions and the perception of Albania’s growing role in Israel-Palestine relations.
The Israeli Prime Minister wasn’t shy about it in his statements to the press, either. He stated, “To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole… is disappointing, and I think it’s actually shameful.” These statements reflect Netanyahu’s frustration with what he perceives as a shift away from traditional alliances in support of Israel.
The Call for Calm
In a letter sent in August after Netanyahu’s particularly blistering denunciations, one of Australia’s most prominent Jewish organizations called for a cooling of rhetoric. The delegation reiterated the importance of a positive discussion. They are seeking to put a stop to further damage to the bilateral relations between Australia and Israel. Alex Ryvchin, a prominent figure within the community, remarked, “There are real-life consequences here and we want to see the countries work through any issues before things get out of hand.”
Amir Maimon, a prominent Israeli commentator, expressed what he saw as the danger. He acknowledged that for the Jewish community in Australia at this time, concerns are heightened right now. He noted that the Labor party’s return to power was marked by a massive increase in displays of antisemitism. This shift was felt most dramatically following the events of October 7th. He touched on the deep historical foundations of Israel–Australia relations, going back to the UN Partition vote of 1947. Nevertheless, these connections are now on thin ice.
Netanyahu himself acknowledged this precarious situation, asserting, “What we need to do is calm things down so that relations don’t continue to deteriorate.” His appeal for restraint comes as violence is pervasive, growing on all sides through domestic and foreign circumstances.
Accusations and Reactions
Behind the public rhetoric, Netanyahu’s office has privately blamed the Albanese government for increasing antisemitism in Australia. Yet the bellicose language emitted by Netanyahu reveals how very deep the personal feelings run. This, in turn, emphasizes a panic which often seems characteristic of Israeli society toward the international perception of their country.
Perhaps more surprisingly, Netanyahu’s own son has jumped into the fray, accusing French President Macron of “totalitarianism.” The strong family engagement underscores the deeply personal stakes for Israeli leaders when it comes to international relations and the nature of Israel’s national identity.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called Netanyahu’s attack on Albanese a “gift” to the Australian Prime Minister. As Smith noted, such attacks could very likely boost Albanese’s appeal to his constituents by being a punching bag for Democratic intransigence. As this perspective suggests, the interaction between domestic politics in both countries and the emerging geopolitical scene presents a complicated picture.
