From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 18, 2025
Right-wing ministers flog Australia for decision to bar Rothman
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli says Australia’s move to bar MK Simcha Rothman from the country is “a direct extension” of the Australian government’s “disgraceful choice to honor the rapists and murderers of Hamas,” referring to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement that Canberra will recognize a Palestinian state.
Writing in English on X, Chikli says the ban reflects “a broken moral compass, discrimination, and a grave assault on free speech.”
The Albanese government’s decision to bar MK Rothman (and previously former minister Shaked) from visiting Australia???????? is a direct extension of his disgraceful choice to honor the rapists and murderers of Hamas.
It reflects a broken moral compass, discrimination, and a grave…— עמיחי שיקלי – Amichai Chikli (@AmichaiChikli) August 18, 2025
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir terms the decision “a historical stain and a shame for the Australian government,” in a post on X, criticizing what he calls “the gloating cries of Israeli left-wing activists, the collaborators of Hamas, and those who defame Israel worldwide.”
He warns that Albanese is “wrong to think appeasement of Islamist terror will advance Australia” and says such policies risk following “Britain’s disastrous path.”
Rothman, a Religious Zionism MK, releases his own statement denouncing Australia’s decision to bar him from entering the country, calling it a capitulation to “the antisemitism raging in the streets of Australia.”
Rothman states that the Australian Jewish community had invited him for a “solidarity visit” and that the entry ban is linked to the Knesset’s non-binding July motion in support of the annexation of the West Bank.
“The State of Israel must teach the entire world, including the Australian government, how to fight terrorism and not surrender to it — because surrendering to terrorism leads to more terrorism,” he says.
Likud MK Tali Gotliv says that “Australia has been antisemitic from time immemorial.” She claims the country invented the idea that the way to fight antisemitism is to have “a territory without Jews.”
The Times of Israel Community.