Israel revokes visas for some Australian diplomats

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Monday that he had revoked the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority in response to Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state and cancel the visa of an Israeli lawmaker.

The Australian government had previously canceled the visa of Simcha Rothman, a member of the Religious Zionism party, due to his opposition to Palestinian statehood and his call for Israel to annex the occupied West Bank. Saar stated that Australia’s ambassador to Israel had been informed of the decision and added that he had instructed the Israeli embassy in Canberra to carefully review any official Australian visa applications for entry to Israel, calling Australia's visa refusal "unjustifiable."

Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state is set to occur next month, a step the government hopes will contribute to a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants.

Rothman, who had been invited by a conservative Jewish organisation to visit Australia, expressed disappointment over the cancellation of his visa, stating that his views on Palestinian statehood and Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank reflected the opinions of most Israelis and the Israeli government. He further argued that recognising Palestinian statehood would reward Hamas and terrorism.

Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, emphasised the government's stance against those who spread division, declaring that anyone promoting hate and division would not be welcomed. This statement followed recent sanctions imposed on Rothman’s party colleagues, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, over accusations of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

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