Who is Simcha Rothman, the Israeli MP barred from Australia?

The Age

2 days ago

What is the Religious Zionist Party?
The Religious Zionist party is a far-right nationalist party that advocates for strengthening Jewish religious identity in the region and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank – actions that Australia and most of the international community oppose because they are illegal under international law.
The Times of Israel reported in 2022 that the party had extracted concessions from Netanyahu in an agreement to form a governing coalition, including a vague commitment to annex the West Bank and legalise dozens of unauthorised settlements.
'The Jewish people have the exclusive and indisputable right to all parts of the Land of Israel,' the agreement states.
Netanyahu relies on the party to form government, dragging the broader coalition towards a right-wing party position.
The party's leader, Bezalel Smotrich, is one of two Israeli politicians under Australian sanctions for his advocacy for settler violence and the destruction of Gaza.
In its reasoning for rejecting Rothman's visa, the Home Affairs Department pointed to Smotrich's views, including his opposition to Palestinian statehood and denial of the existence of a Palestinian people.
Smotrich announced last week, following international momentum towards recognition of a Palestinian state, a long-delayed settlement that could divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem would be restarted, a move his office said would 'bury' the idea of a Palestinian state.
Why did the Australian government cancel Rothman's visa?
Rothman had been invited to Australia by the Australian Jewish Association to attend events with Jewish groups and schools this month. His visa was granted on August 8, then cancelled 10 days later, before he had come to Australia.
The Department of Home Affairs outlined its decision in a document which referenced public comments from Rothman calling Gazan children 'enemies' of Israel, denying they were being starved, and claiming the idea of a two-state solution had 'poisoned the minds of the entire world' and was the 'first step toward the destruction of the State of Israel'.
The AJA said the visit was to foster communication between Israeli lawmakers and the Australian Jewish community.
But a department delegate who rescinded the visa said Rothman could use the events in Australia to promote his 'controversial views and ideologies, which may lead to fostering division in the community'.
'The use of platforms for inflammatory rhetoric can lead to increased hate crimes, radicalisation of individuals and heightened tensions in communities,' the delegate said in the document.
They said Rothman could put at risk the 'good order' of Australian society, specifically in the Islamic population.
What does Rothman plan to do now?
Rothman said he would not be deterred and would be a 'proud voice of the Jewish people heard wherever I am', labelling the Australian government's decision as antisemitic.
The AJA said it would host Rothman on Zoom instead so he could still speak to Jewish Australians.
'The Australian government's decision to deny me the opportunity to come and speak to my people, due to expressing simple and clear positions, is clear and blatant antisemitism that gives a boost to terrorism,' Rothman wrote in Hebrew on X.
'In the decision to deny the visa, the Australian home affairs minister claims that my presence and my words will have a serious impact on peace and the rule of law in Australia, meaning that the Islamist mob calling for the destruction of Israel on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne will not be happy about my presence.'
The ABC has reported Rothman insisted he was being blocked from entering Australia only because he said, 'Hamas is bad and Israel is good', and when asked to concede his views were at odds with Australia's foreign policy, said the government was afraid of open discourse about its policies.