Overview

• Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke cancelled Simcha Rothman’s visa and imposed a three-year travel ban, citing risks that his speeches would foment hate and division.
• Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded by revoking visas for Australia’s envoys to the Palestinian Authority and instructing tighter scrutiny of all Australian visa applications.
• Canberra defends the Rothman ban as necessary to protect community cohesion after a spike in antisemitic incidents, while the lian JewishJewish Association labels it discriminatory.
• The tit-for-tat measures deepen a rift sparked by Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state at next month’s UN General Assembly.
• Diplomatic sources warn that further reciprocal visa restrictions could prolong tensions and hamper cooperation on Middle East peace efforts.