From the Liveblog of
Monday, August 18, 2025
Smotrich backs MK barred by Aussies
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.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich tweets in support of Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman after Australia bars him from visiting, writing in a post on X, “Simcha, in the face of all the antisemites in the world, the people of Israel stand behind you and support you.”
“Continue to proudly voice Israel’s stance. We won’t stop until complete victory!” continues Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionism party.
Smotrich was sanctioned in June by Australia, Canada and the UK for “incit[ing] extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.”
Rothman was scheduled to fly to Australia tonight to visit the Jewish community there, but was informed this morning that his visa had been rejected. The move marked a significant escalation after Canberra earlier barred former justice minister Ayelet Shaked last year. In June, it also canceled a visa for Hillel Fuld, a pro-Israel influencer who is the brother of one of Smotrich’s aides.
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