Australian Jewish groups expressed disappointment with the Monday decision to deny Religious Zionist Party MK Simcha Rothman entry into the country, arguing that the denial of a visa for the Israeli politician’s solidarity tour was based on flawed logic – but they also expressed hope that Australian-Israeli relations could still be repaired.
Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler explained to The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday that while Rothman held opinions on many issues that didn’t reflect mainstream opinions, holding alternative views wasn’t an acceptable reason for a democracy like Australia to reject the entry of a democratically elected parliamentarian from another country.
“It’s possible to hold two truths at the same time,” said Leibler. “We have politicians on the far Right who have said far more problematic things.”
There was an inconsistency in the policy of the Labor-led government, said Leibler, when it wasn’t willing to give entry to Rothman but was willing to accept diplomatic relations with a leader like PA head Mahmoud Abbas, who was serving a term far beyond his democratic mandate and led an institution that supported terrorism through programs like pay-for-slay.
Leibler felt that the anger expressed by the Israeli government, which on Monday threatened increased scrutiny of Australian diplomatic representatives to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, was not unreasonable given the circumstances. The ZFA president questioned what the Australian government expected.
Leibler denies accusations that Albanese is antisemitic
“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is not antisemitic,” said Leibler. “There are plenty of reasons to criticize bad policy.”
Rothman had been denied entry, according to the Home Affairs Department record of the decision, because he called for the elimination of Hamas, the expansion of Israeli sovereignty, and denied “any wrongdoing by Israel against Palestinians and Gaza during the current conflict.”
The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council said in a Tuesday statement that while some of Rothman’s views were contrary to those of the organization, “refusing him a visa sets a disturbing precedent for Australia’s treatment of a fellow democracy and long-standing friend.”
“It is very disappointing that Australia and Israel have regressed from a close friendship to unproductive diplomatic jousting, which of course was started by unwarranted and hostile actions by the Australian Government,” said AIJAC.
The Australian Jewish Association, which had co-organized Rothman’s tour to Jewish institutions, schools, and synagogues in the wake of rising terrorism incidents, denounced the decision as antisemitic.
“The visit was not in any way connected to current events in the Middle East,” AJA CEO Robert Gregory said. “This is a viciously antisemitic move from a government that is obsessed with targeting the Jewish community and Israel. All the paperwork was filled out correctly and on time and the visa was approved. The timing of the cancellation at the last minute was spiteful and intended to cause maximum harm to the Australian Jewish community. Mr. Rothman received his cancellation on the day he was to head to the airport for his flight.”
Gregory said that an increasing number of Jews were expressing that they felt welcome in Australia due to the government’s actions, and Gregory suggested that leaders were content with replacing them with Gazan refugees.
The Anti-Israel Jewish Council of Australia told Guardian Australia that it welcomed the decision, as Rothman should not be allowed to engender support for genocidal government policies or incite anti-Palestinian racism among the local Jewish population.
Leibler hoped that the values that created a strong bond between Israel and Australia would prevail over the “unproductive” tit-for-tat diplomatic actions.
“I don’t think that Australia wants this to escalate, in the same way that I believe Israel doesn’t want this to escalate – I would advise Netanyahu and Albanese to focus on the longstanding shared values between Israel and Australia which have not changed,” said Leibler. “We have far more in common than we have different.”