Australia rebukes Netanyahu over Gaza row

Australia confronts Israel after Netanyahu’s comments, as Canberra recognises a Palestinian state and brisk diplomacy tests the alliance.

Australia rebukes Netanyahu over Gaza row

Australia’s government has publicly pushed back against Israel’s prime minister after he labelled the Australian leader as weak. In comments broadcast on ABC Radio National, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke argued that strength should not be measured by violence or the suffering of civilians, framing the debate as a test of how leaders handle tough choices in public. The exchange comes as Israel’s leadership lanes into sharper rhetoric toward critics among its allies, including countries that recently recognised a Palestinian state.

The dispute underscores a broader strain in a traditionally close alliance. Canberra’s decision last week to recognise a Palestinian state has touched a nerve in Jerusalem and prompted reciprocal moves, including Israel’s decision to revoke visas held by Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority. At the same time, Australia cancelled a visa for Simcha Rothman, a member of Netanyahu’s governing coalition, over concerns about his planned speaking tour aimed at spreading division. Gaza’s health authorities say the war has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, a figure that intensifies international scrutiny of all sides.

The clash reveals how diplomacy now plays out in public forums and on social media, where sharp words can escalate quickly. It also shows how long standing alliances are tested when policy shifts trigger visible backlash. Australia is trying to balance a moral stance on Palestinian statehood with a continued security partnership with Israel, a difficult tightrope in a crowded regional arena.

If this tone persists, the row could influence how other allies respond to similar moves, affecting coordination on security, aid, and regional diplomacy. The episode highlights the risk that public disputes over Gaza could overshadow humanitarian concerns and complicate any future push for a negotiated solution. Canberra’s approach suggests a preference for direct, transparent dialogue even as disagreements surface, a stance that may define its role among Western partners in the years ahead.

Highlights

Diplomacy remains the steady path in a crisis that touches many lives.