‘Antisemitism in disguise': Activists who praise Iran's attacks shamed for being ‘inauthentic'
An Iranian missile has hit an Israeli hospital in the country's south, as well as more rockets continue to hit residential areas.
'There was no outrage … the world's reaction was 'they deserve it',' Ms Le Bon told Sky News Senior Reporter Caroline Marcus.
'No matter what you feel about Israel's government … there is no excuse for dehumanising an entire nation of people.
'All of their activism is not real, it's not authentic.
'If it really was authentic … then they would've been just as upset to see Israeli civilians being killed.
'This passion for antisemitism is bringing us to another world war.
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7NEWS
10 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Israel bans Australian diplomats from occupied territories
The Israeli government has revoked the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority, in the latest deterioration of relations between the two countries. In a statement on social media Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said he had also told the Israeli ambassador in Canberra 'to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel'. He said the decision followed Australia's announcement that it will recognise a Palestine state. It was 'also against the backdrop of Australia's unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures', he said. These included former minister Ayelet Shaked and the Chairman of the Knesset's constitution, law and justice committee, Simcha Rothman. Rothman's scheduled visit to Australia was stopped by the Home Affairs Department this week. The right-wing parliamentarian has made inflammatory comments, including describing Gazan children as 'enemies'. It was decided his presence in Australia would risk a reaction from the Islamic community. Three Australian diplomats based in Israel have visas for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. They go to the West Bank every day, where they have an office and speak with the Palestinian Authority. They also provide consular assistance to Australians when needed, and were involved in the exit of Australians and family members who received visas to come to Australia in the early stages of the conflict. These diplomats are likely now to leave Israel, given they cannot do the work assigned to them. Before announcing Australia's planned recognition, which will happen at the United Nations next month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbes, and obtained various assurances ahead of the announcement. The Israeli government's decision will make the Australian government's dialogue with the Palestinian Authority more difficult and complicated. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Israel's decision was 'an unjustified reaction' following the recognition decision. 'At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace. 'We will continue to work with partners as we contribute international momentum to a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages.' Sa'ar said antisemitism was 'raging in Australia'. 'The Australian government is choosing to fuel it by false accusations, as if the visit of Israeli figures will disrupt public order and harm Australia's Muslim population,' he said. 'It is shameful and unacceptable.' Opposition leader Sussan Ley said she regretted how the relationship between the governments of Australia and Israel was deteriorating. On the visa rejection, she said Rothman was 'an elected member of the Israeli parliament and it's a very unusual thing to refuse a visa'. This coming Sunday, pro-Palestine marches will be held in more than 30 cities and towns across the country. There will also be a demonstration at Pine Gap, the joint Australian-US facility near Alice Springs.
Perth Now
10 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Israeli MP's brazen move after visa ban
Far-right Israeli MP Simcha Rothman will speak to Australian audiences through a major virtual event via Zoom after his visa was cancelled by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) said it would hold 'one large communal event' that would allow Mr Rothman to 'address the Jewish community via Zoom'. In a statement shared on X, the AJA said it had arranged for Mr Rothman to 'speak to many Australian synagogues, schools and other Jewish organisations', and the revoking of his visa was the 'latest of many anti-Semitic attacks on the Australian Jewish community'. 'The show will go on. The Jew -haters will not win,' it shared on X. 'The Jewish community won't bow down to Tony Burke or Penny Wong. 'Instead of many events, we will hold one large communal event where Simcha will address the Jewish community via Zoom.' Sussan Ley has also taken aim at Australia's 'deteriorating' relationship after Israel cancelled visas for Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority overnight in response to the action taken against Mr Rothman. It is the heaviest blow to the bilateral relationship, which has been severely strained by the Albanese government's opposition to large-scale civilian suffering in Gaza. 'Israel is a Liberal democracy in the Middle East and we should be supporting them as that liberal democracy, and the steps that the Albanese government has taken over recent days and weeks certainly have not demonstrated that,' the Opposition Leader told reporters on Tuesday. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is calling on the Albanese government to 'explain' after a visa stoush with Israel. Emma Brasier / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'This is an elected member of the Israeli parliament and it's a very unusual thing to refuse a visa and I haven't seen explanations from Tony Burke that actually explain what is going on here,' she said. She added that 'disagreeing with the Albanese government is not a reason to refuse a visa'. Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke also sparked controversy last year by blocking a visa for ex-Israeli Minister Ayelet Shaked. He did so for comments Ms Shaked made in 2014 calling children of terrorists 'little snakes'. She said the families of terrorists 'are all enemy combatants, and their blood shall be on all their heads'. NewsWire understands Mr Rotman's visa was cancelled for similar reasons. Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Israel's decision is 'unjustified'. Martin Ollman / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has slammed Israel's decision. 'At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution,' Senator Wong said in a statement. 'This is an unjustified reaction, following Australia's decision to recognise Palestine. 'We will continue to work with partners as we contribute international momentum to a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages.' It is unclear how many Australian officials are affected as the diplomatic representation for the Palestinian Authority is relatively small. But announcing the visa cancellations overnight, Senator Wong's counterpart, Gideon Sa'ar hinted action could be expanded to include any Australian officials seeking to enter Israel. 'I also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel,' Mr Sa'ar posted on social media. He pointed to Anthony Albanese's pledge 'to recognise a 'Palestinian state' and against the backdrop of Australia's unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures', including Ms Shaked and Mr Rotman. 'While anti-Semitism is raging in Australia, including manifestations of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions, the Australian government is choosing to fuel it by false accusations, as if the visit of Israeli figures will disrupt public order and harm Australia's Muslim population,' Mr Sa'ar said. 'It is shameful and unacceptable!' In her statement, Senator Wong disputed Mr Sa'ar's claim, saying that Australia 'welcomes different races, religions and views, united by respect for each other's humanity and for each other's right to live in peace'. 'We safeguard our communities and protect all Australians from hate and harm,' she said. 'The Australian government will always take decisive action against anti-Semitism.'
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Opposition attacks Albanese government for 'badly mismanaging' Israel ties as feud exposes deep divisions over Palestine
The federal opposition has accused the Albanese government of mismanaging the Australia-Israel relationship after a spiralling diplomatic row sunk ties to new lows. Both countries have issued visa cancellations against each other in a tit-for-tat retaliation, after the Albanese government decided to recognise Palestinian statehood. Israel revoked the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority, after the Albanese government cancelled an Israeli lawmaker's visa. Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash said the decision to cancel the visa of Israeli MP Simcha Rothman had triggered 'escalating diplomatic consequences'. The federal opposition has accused the Albanese government of mismanaging the Australia-Israel relationship after a spiralling diplomatic row sunk ties to new lows. 'The Albanese government has badly mismanaged this relationship at a time when careful diplomacy is more important than ever,' Ms Cash said. 'Instead of maintaining trust with Israel - one of our closest democratic allies - Labor has recklessly inflamed tensions and undermined Australia's credibility. The government cancelled Mr Rothman's visa, claiming he made inflammatory remarks that would jeopardise the safety of the Australian Islamic community. 'The Coalition has serious concerns about the Albanese government's reasons for cancelling the visa of Israeli parliamentarian Simcha Rothman,' Ms Cash said. 'It is extraordinary that Home Affairs documents, as reported in the media, reveal the stated reasons for blocking Mr Rothman's entry into Australia was in part his advocacy for the elimination of Hamas.' The Australian newspaper revealed on Tuesday that Mr Rothman was denied his visa over concerns his presence could spark counter-protests. Internal Home Affairs documents said his calls to eliminate Hamas would be considered 'inflammatory and concerning', according to the report. This comes despite the fact that Hamas has been listed as a terrorist organisation responsible for murdering thousands of innocent civilians. 'To suggest that calls for the destruction of Hamas are 'inflammatory' or grounds for visa cancellation is absurd,' Ms Cash said. She lamented that the government had 'badly mismanaged this relationship at a time when careful diplomacy is more important than ever'. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley also condemned the handling of the issue, saying the rejection of Mr Rothman's visa was 'a very unusual thing'. 'I really regret the way that the relationship between the Albanese government and the government of Israel is deteriorating,' Ms Ley told reporters on Tuesday. 'Israel is a liberal democracy in the Middle East, and we should be supporting them as that liberal democracy. 'It's a very unusual thing to refuse a visa, and I haven't seen explanations from Tony Burke that actually explain what is going on here.' Ms Ley did not confirm whether she believed Mr Rothman should be allowed into Australia, but said the reasons for his denial need to be made public. 'We need the Minister for Home Affairs to explain… disagreeing with the Albanese government is not a reason to refuse a visa,' she said. The opposition's attack followed Foreign Minister Penny Wong calling Israel's move to revoke Australian visas as an 'unjustified reaction' to recognising Palestine as a state. 'At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu government is isolating Israel,' Ms Wong said on Tuesday. 'This is an unjustified reaction, following Australia's decision to recognise Palestine.' Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed that the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority had been revoked. Like many countries, Australia maintains an embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv and a representative office to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The row has left Australia more deeply entangled in the Middle Eastern conflict, with both sides trading blame and domestic opinion divided. Polling for The Sydney Morning Herald showed only 24 per cent of voters supported recognition of Palestine regardless of who held power in Gaza. Thirty-two per cent favoured waiting until Hamas was removed or Palestine recognised Israel's right to exist. Forty-four per cent opposed any change to Australia's current position.
