Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says Labor’s Palestine support in the UN will invite more terrorism
The office of Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticised the Albanese government over its retreating support for Israel and promotion of Palestinian statehood at the UN, suggesting Australia may no longer be a ‘key ally’ of the Jewish state.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticised the Albanese government over its retreating support for Israel and promotion of Palestinian statehood at the UN, describing these actions as rewards for terrorism and suggesting Australia may no longer be a “key ally” of the Jewish state.
In comments provided exclusively to The Australian, the office of Mr Netanyahu said the “disappointing” change in position at the UN would undoubtedly “invite more terrorism” and “more anti-Semitic riots” on Western campuses and city centres, “including in Australia”.
Australia voted on Wednesday (AEDT) in favour of Israel withdrawing its “unlawful presence” from the West Bank, Gaza and eastern Jerusalem, marking a two-decade change in Canberra’s position on the matter.
The resolution, which passed by 157-8, also called for settlers to be removed from the West Bank and will also see a conference held in June 2025, in New York, to chart an “irreversible pathway” towards a Palestinian state. A separate UN vote calling on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights, which was part of Syria until 1967, was not supported. Australia abstained from a third vote.
The statement provided by Mr Netanyahu’s office said Australia’s position amounted to a reward for terrorists who abducted 250 hostages – 101 of whom remain in captivity, including children, young women and elderly men – and slaughtered 1200 people on October 7 last year.
“Australia’s flip flop is disappointing,” the statement said, marking the first time Mr Netanyahu’s office has commented directly on the actions of Australia and the Albanese government.
“Awarding anti-Semitism and terrorism with a state in the heart of the Jewish ancient homeland and cradle of civilisation will invite more terrorism and more anti-Semitic riots at campuses and city centres, including in Australia.”
While not specifically naming Hamas, the statement makes greater mention of the shambolic and hostile Palestinian Authority as an obvious leader in any future Palestinian state, even though it maintains a longstanding policy of paying salaries to imprisoned terrorists and to the families of dead terrorists who had killed Israelis.
Palestinian Authority leaders met with Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Ramallah in January during her tour of the region. In sharpened language, the Prime Minister’s office said the Palestinian Authority had yet to denounce the atrocities of October 7 that were “carried out by Palestinian terrorists”, and that Australia appeared intent on rewarding them for it.
“To the contrary, they have embraced those atrocities that included the rape, murder and beheading of Jews. It’s a shame that the current Australian government wants to award these savages with a state.”
The statement ends with a not so subtle remark indicating just how badly relations have deteriorated between Australia and Israel over the past year.
“Thankfully, our key allies support Israel as we strive for true peace and security” – a statement that may be interpreted as a suggestion that Australia is no longer regarded as a longstanding ally.
Mr Netanyahu has not made any public remarks about Australia’s shift in support from Israel over the past 14 months, although in recent days his government has used diplomatic channels to express its disapproval.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar summoned Australian ambassador Ralph King this week to be reprimanded over Australia’s positioning on Israel at the UN. The last time Australia voted for a UN resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from disputed territories was in 2001. In May, Australia voted to recognise Palestine as qualified to become a full UN member, and last month Australia backed a resolution recognising the “permanent sovereignty of the Palestinians” in the West Bank and Gaza.
Mr King, who has held ambassadorial postings across the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kuwait, was also admonished by Mr Sa’ar over a decision by Immigration Minister Tony Burke last month to refuse a visa to former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked.
Mr Sa’ar said the decision to decline Ms Shaked’s visa was “based on baseless blood libels spread by the pro-Palestinian lobby in Australia, and it is a shame that a friendly country like Australia chose to base it on them instead of the longstanding friendship between the countries.”
Jewish organisations in Australia have openly described Labor’s relationship with Israel as having sunk to new lows.
Peter Dutton has accused the government of having “abandoned Israel” for reasons of political expediency. “And it’s not just about the Jewish community, not just about Israel. It’s about civilisation itself,” he said on Thursday.
“And it’s about the values that we have as Westerners and as a culture that’s worth protecting and defending.”
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