It follows Australia’s announcement that it will formally recognize Palestine at the next meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month. This decision has ignited a hellstorm of retaliation from Israel. In response to his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, visiting a school in Ramallah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu excoriated him. He called Albanese a “weak politician” for what he views as a betrayal of Australia’s Jewish population. So, naturally, the ever-increasing rhetoric from the two leaders has quite a few people concerned. It would set a dangerous precedent for the future of Australia-Israel diplomatic relations.
In response to Australia’s recognition of Palestine, Netanyahu expressed his outrage, arguing that Albanese’s stance undermines the historical ties between the two nations. He warned that such a step would put the lives of Israeli citizens at risk. The increasingly vitriolic back and forth underscores an increasingly pronounced divide in Australia-Israel relations that most pundits say has reached an all-time low.
A Heated Exchange
When the spat intensified, Albanese stood up to Netanyahu. In the strongest terms yet, he vigorously declared that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is “in denial” concerning the destructive impact of the current war on Gaza. Australia’s peak Jewish body, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), condemned the remark in the strongest terms. They labelled Albanese’s comments as “unbecoming, excessive and gratuitously insulting.”
Daniel Aghion, president of the Executive Council, said on the helm, he’s saddened by the recent public war of words between the two leaders. In a letter addressed to both Albanese and Netanyahu, he stated, “The sum total of human wisdom would not have been diminished in the slightest if none of these public comments had been made.” Aghion added that the Australian Jewish community ought not to suffer the consequences of this diplomatic dispute.
“These comments have played straight into the hands of opponents of Israel and antisemites, to the detriment of the Australian Jewish community.” – Daniel Aghion
The Executive Council called on both leaders to utilize proven diplomatic channels of communication. They are particularly keen to prevent any public posturing that might inflame the situation further.
Diplomatic Fallout
The tensions have been exacerbated by Australia’s recent decision to cancel the visa of Simcha Rothman, a far-right member of Netanyahu’s coalition, just days before his planned speaking tour in Australia. In response, Israel decided to cancel the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority. This tit-for-tat reaction highlights the fragile state of diplomatic relations and how quickly they can deteriorate as political statements and actions become incendiary.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley condemned the government for losing control over its relationship with Israel. Mismanagement, she said, could have years-long effects on topics like Australia’s foreign policy and its position in international affairs more broadly. Ley’s remarks are symptomatic of increasing nervousness and debate within both major political parties about the way Australia is engaging with its allies.
International Context
Australia’s recognition is therefore timely indeed. Other countries such as France, the United Kingdom and Canada are preparing to recognize Palestine in that same UN meeting. So far, Israel has vocally denounced these moves, considering them an insult to its national sovereignty. These are perilous times for defenders of an independent Palestine. This trend is an early sign of changing international perceptions and can increase further pressure on Israel and its supporters.
Aghion took the opportunity to focus on the broader significance of these changes. He explained that for both leaders, the key will be balancing growing domestic politics with increasing international isolation. He noted that Albanese’s comments showed “a woeful lack of understanding of social and political conditions in Australia” and called for more measured diplomacy.
“It was unseemly for an Australian prime minister to depart from diplomatic norms concerning the leader of a country with which Australia has had friendly relations for many decades.” – Daniel Aghion
