A long-standing partnership between Israel and Australia has unravelled into public acrimony after Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, lashed out at his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, for Canberra’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state. Netanyahu warned in a Sky News Australia interview that Albanese’s legacy would be “forever tarnished,” calling the move evidence of “weakness” and claiming Hamas had praised the decision, a claim the group later denied.

The war of words marks the lowest ebb in bilateral relations for decades. In a sharply worded letter, Netanyahu described Albanese as “a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.” Australia, for its part, cancelled the visa of far-right Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman over concerns about inciting division. Israel responded by revoking visas for Australian diplomats posted to the Palestinian Authority, escalating the diplomatic standoff.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke pushed back against Netanyahu’s attack, arguing that real strength lies not in violence but in protecting the vulnerable. “Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry.” The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has intervened, urging both governments to resume discreet diplomacy to shield Australia’s Jewish community from the fallout.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of intensifying international scrutiny over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 62 000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Israeli officials say the October 7 Hamas attack left about 1 200 Israelis dead, with 251 people taken hostage.