Israel boots Australian diplomats, orders close look at visa requests as ties sour

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has decided to revoke the residency visas of Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority, the minister announces in a post on X, hours after Canberra barred an Israeli lawmaker from entering the country.

Sa’ar, who accuses the Australian government of fanning antisemitism, writes that he also instructed Israel’s embassy in Canberra “to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel.” It’s unclear if the policy will affect all Australian requests or only those from Australian officials.

The moves, which were presented to the Australian ambassador a short while ago, follow “Australia’s decisions to recognize a ‘Palestinian state'” in September, and the country’s “unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures, including former Minister Ayelet Shaked and the Chairman of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, MK Simcha Rotman,” according to Sa’ar.

“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. It is shameful and unacceptable!” Sa’ar adds.

In a sharply worded Hebrew-language video message released by Sa’ar’s office shortly after the announcement, the minister adds that “Australia is acting against Israel, Australia is persecuting Israel,” and that its move to bar individuals “must be understood in this context.”

“And we will take additional measures,” Sa’ar adds. “To be continued.”

Despite holding offices in Ramallah, both Australian diplomats representing Canberra to the PA live in Israel, according to Channel 12 news.