JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese had forsaken Australia’s Jewish group and betrayed Israel, a comment which will additional pressure diplomatic ties examined by the battle in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s remark adopted Israel’s revocation of the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority on Monday, after a call by Canberra to recognise a Palestinian state and cancel the visa of an Israeli lawmaker.
“Historical past will keep in mind Albanese for what he’s: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and deserted Australia’s Jews,” Netanyahu stated on the official prime minister’s X account in English.
The Israeli lawmaker had been attributable to meet with Australia’s Jewish group, which has confronted a pointy rise in antisemitic assaults for the reason that starting of Israel’s battle with Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, nearly two years in the past.
Australian Overseas Minister Penny Wong on Monday known as Israel’s visa revocation counter-step an “unjustified response” and stated Netanyahu’s authorities was rising Israel’s diplomatic isolation.
Israel has been going through mounting worldwide strain over the toll its army offensive has taken on the civilian inhabitants within the shattered Gaza Strip.
Albanese stated on August 12 that Netanyahu was “in denial” in regards to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Albanese made his comment a day after asserting Australia could recognise a Palestinian state on the United Nations basic Meeting in September, following France, Britain and Canada.
Netanyahu has stated this could function a reward for Hamas’ October 7 2023 assault on Israel, which triggered the Gaza battle.
(Reporting by Maayan Lubell, Modifying by William Maclean)