Israel’s foreign ministry is ‘disappointed’ at Tony Burke’s decision to ban influencer

Israel has joined the US in slamming Australia’s decision to ban Hillel Fuld, urging a reversal amid warnings the visa move risks damaging diplomatic ties.

Israeli-American tech influencer Hillel Fuld. Picture: Facebook

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The Albanese government is facing a deepening diplomatic rift with both Washington and Jerusalem after it cancelled the visa of pro-Israel commentator Hillel Fuld, who claims an Australian official privately offered to reverse the decision if he agreed not to speak about his brother — murdered by a Palestinian terrorist.

Israel has formally called on the Albanese government to reverse its decision to cancel the visa of Mr Fuld, escalating diplomatic pressure on Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

Speaking with The Australian, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said she was disappointed by the decision and urged Mr Burke to reconsider, warning the refusal risked undermining ties between the two countries.

“The banning of high profile Israelis from Australia must stop. This is no way for an ally to act,” Ms Haskel told The Australian.

“Last year, the Australian government also banned former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked from entering Australia. But it welcomed Francesca Albanese — a UN official notorious for spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, minimising the Holocaust, and defending terror against Israelis.

“Australia, like every sovereign state, has the right to decide which foreigners can and can’t enter its territory. But in this instance I would urge the Minister for Home Affairs to change his decision regarding the visa of Hillel Fuld.”

Her comments come just a day after The Australian revealed that US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee had personally appealed to Mr Burke in a rare diplomatic intervention over the matter.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Picture: NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Despite the diplomatic pressure, it’s understood the department of Home Affairs has declined to review their decision.

Speaking with Sky News on Monday night, Mr Fuld said the decision to ban him was “pure anti-Semitism”, and rejected allegations of incitement or Islamophobia, saying his online commentary was fact-based and non-violent.

He also revealed that an official from the Albanese government had allegedly offered to reverse the decision on the condition that he does not mention his brother, who was murdered in a terrorist attack.

“I was told: if you want the ban reversed, don’t talk about your dead brother,” he said. “That’s insane.”

“It’s fair to assume that this is not going to be solved. And so now is the time to let the world know that this is pure anti-Semitism.”

“I think Australia is jumping on the bandwagon of all the Jew hatred across the world... We see Parliament, whether it’s in Canada or in the UK or many other countries.The Jew is scapegoated and everyone jumps in and joins the party.”

Hillel Fuld.

The cancellation means Mr Fuld will be barred from entering Australia for at least three years. He may, however, apply for revocation within 28 days of being notified.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s co-chief executive, Alex Ryvchin, called the decision “absurd” and “preposterous”.

“To think that he was someone that could be deemed of such ill character, that he should be excluded and banned from entering this country, is absurd,” Mr Ryvchin said.

“I think this is a very dangerous use of migration policy as a tool of statecraft, to try to keep out people who have mildly controversial views.

“There’s nothing in what he said that is so heinous and preposterous that he poses a risk to public order, and this ban should be overturned.”

The government made the decision to revoke Mr Fuld’s visa after citing concerns that his presence in the country may pose a risk to “the health, safety or good order” of the Australian community, particularly among Muslim Australians.