Australia Responds to Netanyahu's Criticism
(MENAFN) Australia has firmly responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following his sharp criticism of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, after Canberra declared its intention to acknowledge Palestinian statehood during the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.
In a discussion with a news agency, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke addressed Netanyahu's response, stating the Israeli leader had “lashed out” at nations supporting Palestinian sovereignty.
Burke emphasized that Australia would not succumb to any pressure or threats.
"Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry," Burke said.
He continued by asserting, “Strength is much better measured by exactly what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done, which is when there’s a decision that we know Israel won’t like, he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Netanyahu’s remarks followed on Tuesday when his office released a statement on X, the American social media platform, describing Albanese as a “weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”
Burke also spoke in support of Australia’s recent move to revoke the visa of Simcha Rothman, a far-right member of Israel’s Knesset.
Rothman had been scheduled to embark on a speaking tour this month but was denied entry due to past controversial comments where he labeled children in Gaza as the “enemies” of Israel.
“If anyone wanted to come on a public speech tour, and they had those views publicly expressed about Israeli children, I would block the visa,” Burke stated.
He further added, “I am going to not have a lower bar for the protection of views that are bigoted views against the Palestinian people.”
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