Political Poison: Australia's venomous assault on Israel continues

Last week I wrote an article expressing deep concern over the Australian government’s ill-timed and ill-advised intention to declare Palestinian statehood at an upcoming United Nations meeting.  Predictably, the move received harsh rebuke from Prime Minister Netanyahu and other leaders within Israel.  With tensions between our respective nations continuing to simmer, where do we go from here?  Firstly, let’s take a moment to recap the events which have led to possibly the worst period of Australian-Israeli relations since the rebirth of the State of Israel.

On 11 August 2025, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that he intends to recognise a Palestinian State within Israel’s borders at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.  In doing so, Mr Albanese believes that: “Australia’s decision helps build the historic global momentum to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East.”  That statement demonstrates that either Mr Albanese has limitless optimism or breathtaking ignorance.  Many Australians, me included, claim it is the latter.  Anyone with a modicum of common sense and understanding of modern history knows that many of Israel’s neighbours and enemies do not seek peace - they seek the eradication of Israel.  As they have not been able to achieve this militarily, they have sought to achieve this politically.  The two-state solution is, in the dark recess of evil minds, simply another step towards a one-state solution with Jews subjugated or eradicated.

Although Israel was rightly alarmed by Mr Albanese’s decision, tensions were further heightened between Australia and Israel when the Australian government decided to deny an Israeli politician entry to Australia.  The politician in question is Simcha Rothman who, depending on which news source you read, is considered “far-right”.  Given that Australia’s government is currently “far-left”, there was always going to be trouble when the two worldviews met.  Mr Rothman’s visit to Australia was at the invitation of the Australian Jewish Association who had asked him to speak at Australian synagogues, schools and other Jewish organisations.  Since antisemitism in Australia has increased sharply since October 7, Mr Rothman’s trip was simply billed as a “solidarity tour”.  But why would a solidarity tour be considered contentious?

According to Australian news reports, the decision to reject Mr Rothman’s visa was due to the fear that he would use the speaking events to "promote his controversial views and ideologies, which may lead to fostering division in the community".  ABC News in Australia, which claims to have seen the Australian government’s letter rejecting Mr Rothman’s visa, reported that: “The letter cites examples of Mr Rothman claiming that children were not dying of hunger in Gaza, that those children were Israel's enemies, and that the idea of a two-state solution had ‘poisoned the minds of the entire world’”.  But much like bad real estate brochures, letters from politicians will try to hide the truth by using vague and trivial language.  Once you cut through that, you get to the truth.  So, here it is.  The government’s decision states (with emphasis added) that "his presence in Australia would or might be a risk to the good order of the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community, namely the Islamic population".  There you have it – in the current version of Australia, antisemitic statements are fine, statements legitimately criticising the actions of Hamas and the wickedness of the Gazan population are not.  Never did I think I would see the day when an Australian government would be shielding a terrorist entity from criticism.

To repeat the words of the Australian government, they denied Mr Rothman entry to Australia because they did not want him to "promote his controversial views and ideologies, which may lead to fostering division in the community".  May I remind the government that at a recent pro-Palestinian march in Sydney, protestors were chanting “death to the IDF”!  Does this not fit within the category of promoting controversial views and ideologies which has led not only to division in the community, but also fear?  In attempting to defend its position, the Australian government said: "Our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division.  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." 

Please, spare me the platitudes. Many Jews openly admit that Australia is no longer safe for them.  To cite one example, in response to graffiti at a Jewish school which said, “Jew Die”, one Jewish parent said: “Our society is broken. My perceived safe haven of living in Australia, oceans away from guns, bombs and terror has been shattered. I don’t feel safe anymore.”  But wait!  The government said “Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe, and feel safe.”  It would appear that means everyone except the Jewish community.  Australia’s government may give lip service to combatting antisemitism, but the government gives tacit approval to acts of hate against the Jewish community by failing to show a hardline approach to the staggering number of antisemitic incidents which are occurring in Australia, particularly during pro-Palestinian marches. 

In a departure from the usual polite political discourse between democratic nations, Benjamin Netanyahu did not hold back when he said: “History will remember Albanese for what he is: a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”  That comment received applause from some and harsh criticism from others.  In response, the Home Affairs Minister of Australia, Tony Burke, said: “Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry.  Strength is much better measured by exactly what [Albanese] has done, which is when there’s a decision that we know Israel won’t like, he goes straight to Benajmin Netanyahu.”  Mr Burke’s comments are not only insensitive, but they are also reckless.  By implying that Israel is engaging in indiscriminate bombing and deliberate starvation, he is unwittingly providing political soundbites for antisemites advancing a 21^st century version of the blood libels that Nazi propagandists used to foment hatred against the Jews.     

In my opening paragraph, I asked where we go from here.  To begin with, it is important for Jews in Australia and Israel to know that the political policies of our Australian government do not reflect the opinions of the majority of Australians.  Like many Western nations today, Australian politics finds itself largely disconnected from community sentiment.  In addition, we have very few Christians in political high office who hold a biblical worldview.  But Australia has not only succumbed to bad politics but also bad theology.  You see, Australia has been infected by replacement theology and this virus not only affects pulpits, it affects public office as well.  At the core of replacement theology is the view that Israel, as a nation rejected, is undeserving of a glorious future.  In this warped theology, Israel is therefore seen as powerless, stateless, fruitless and futureless.  Do you see how teaching that spiritually has led to that view publicly and politically? 

The pulpits have been poisoned and that poison has seeped into public life in Australia.  If Australia is to reverse course, it must begin with pulpits reclaiming solid biblical teaching which aligns with Scripture concerning God’s future plan for Israel.  Australians must be reminded that the rebirth of Israel was not a mistake to be corrected but a divine appointment to be celebrated.  Where do we go from here?  With a reminder to the Australian government of Psalm 129:5-8: Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back.  Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his arms.  Neither let those who pass by them say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord!” 

As one commentator said when examining this portion of Scripture: “At the heart of high and holy patriotism there must ever burn a divine anger with all that is opposed to the purpose and plan of God. To hate Zion is to hate God. To tolerate those who do so, is to be confederate with their wickedness.”  Mr Albanese, according to the laws of the land, I am an Australian citizen.  However, the Apostle Paul reminds me in Philippians 3:20 that I am first and foremost a citizen of heaven.  In my “high and holy patriotism” as a humble ambassador of the King of kings and lord of Lords, I feel it is important to tell you that you and your government are making decisions that are setting Australia on a path of judgement.  It would be to your advantage and the advantage of the entire nation to change course.