Overview

• Benjamin Netanyahu posted that Anthony Albanese is a "weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews" and circulated a letter to world leaders denouncing recognition of Palestinian statehood as appeasement that fuels antisemitism.
• Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke rejected the attack and defended cancelling Simcha Rothman’s visa, saying strength is not measured by blowing people up or leaving children hungry, and citing Rothman’s past comments about Palestinian children.
• After Australia blocked Rothman’s visit, Israel revoked visas for Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority and ordered extra scrutiny of Australian official visa requests.
• Albanese said he would not take the insults personally and reiterated that Australia will proceed to formalise recognition at the UN in September following his prior call with Netanyahu.
• Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called Netanyahu’s outburst a political "gift" to Albanese, and Australian Jewish leaders said the community does not feel abandoned, while Australia’s opposition labeled ties at an all‑time low and pledged to reverse recognition if elected.