Israel’s foreign minister has revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority, citing Australia’s “unjustified refusal” to grant visas to Israeli figures and its intention to recognise Palestinian statehood.
In a post to X on Monday night, Gideon Sa’ar said the decision was made following the Albanese government’s cancellation of Simcha Rothman’s visa on Monday ahead of his speaking tour this month.
“While antisemitism is raging in Australia, including manifestations of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions, the Australian government is choosing to fuel it by false accusations, as if the visit of Israeli figures will disrupt public order and harm Australia’s Muslim population,” Sa’r said.
“It is shameful and unacceptable!”
I decided to revoke the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority. The Australian Ambassador to Israel was just notified on the matter.
I also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for…
— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) August 18, 2025
The foreign minister said he had also instructed the Israeli embassy in Canberra to “carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel”.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announced Australia would recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations general assembly in September as part of a two-state solution, following new commitments by the Palestinian Authority. The move was criticised by Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as “disappointing” and “shameful”.
Australia’s representatives to Palestine are based in Ramallah in the West Bank.
Palestine’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s decision to revoke the visas of Australian representatives in the “strongest terms”, describing the move as “illegal” and a display of “Israeli arrogance and a state of political imbalance”.
Rothman, a member of the Religious Zionism party which is part of Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, had been scheduled to appear at events in Sydney and Melbourne next weekend as part of a “solidarity tour” for Jewish Australians.
The far-right politician, who is strongly opposed to a two-state solution, once described Palestinian children in Gaza as “enemies” and called for Israel’s full annexation of the West Bank.
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed on Monday that Rothman’s visa application had been cancelled after Guardian Australia first put questions to his office on Friday morning.
“Our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division,” Burke said in a statement.
“If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don’t want you here. Under our government, Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe, and feel safe.”
Burke has previously barred the entry of other personalities and politicians with a history of controversial or offensive statements, including the rapper Kanye West, the US law professor Khaled Beydoun and the former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked.
Rothman accused the Albanese government of “clear and blatant antisemitism” in a post written in Hebrew on X shortly after the decision was made public.
Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of Rothman’s party and who was sanctioned by the Albanese government in June, praised Rothman, saying “in the face of all the antisemites in the world, the people of Israel stand behind you and support you”.
Israel’s diaspora minister, Amichai Chikli, said Australia’s decision reflected a “broken moral compass, discrimination, and a grave assault on free speech” while Israel’s former opposition leader, Benny Gantz, said it was “not only deeply misguided, but blatantly hypocritical”.
“If only Australia fought the ravaging antisemitism targeting its Jewish communities with the same fervor it banned representatives from the one & only democracy in the Middle East,” Gantz said in a post on X.
Rothman is an outspoken critic of a two-state solution and has supported Donald Trump’s proposal to remove Palestinians entirely from Gaza, citing security concerns for Israel.
In a May interview with the UK’s Channel 4, he claimed children within Gaza were “enemies” who should not be allowed to flee into Israel as “you don’t let them conquer your country with refugees”.
“They are our enemies and according to international treaties about refugees in the time of war, you don’t let them conquer your country with refugees,” Rothman said.
In July, Rothman was one of a handful of Knesset members who initiated a symbolic motion to “apply” Israel’s sovereignty to the occupied West Bank territory. The motion passed 71-13.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and Israeli embassy in Australia have been contacted for comment.
