Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hit out at Anthony Albanese in a brutal attack, claiming he ‘abandoned Australia’s Jews‘.

Netanyahu took to X on Tuesday evening to brand the Australian Prime Minister ‘weak’ and accused him of ‘betraying Israel‘.

He wrote: ‘History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.’

The attack follows Israel’s decision to revoke the visas of Australian diplomats who engage with the Palestinian Authority.  

The Australian Representative Office in Ramallah is the government’s presence in Palestine, with Bethany Randell the current Australian representative. 

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar announced the news on Monday.

Sa’ar confirmed this was a direct result of Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

The foreign minister said he ‘also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel.’ 

He also referenced Australia’s refusal to grant visas to several Israeli political figures, which he claimed was ‘unjustified’.

These figures included former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked and the Chairman of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, MK Simcha Rotman.

Sa’ar claimed: ‘Antisemitism is raging in Australia’.

The Israeli minister went further by arguing that there is ‘manifestations of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions.’

He accused the Australian government of ‘choosing to fuel’ antisemitism ‘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!’ The statement concluded. 

Ms Randall took over as Australian Representative to the Occupied Palestinian Territories from Edward Russell in January 2025.

Her predecessor had been awarded a Public Service Medal in the 2025 Australia Day honours for his ‘outstanding service… in conflict zones during the Israel-Hamas conflict’.

Hours before Netanyahu’s attack on Tuesday Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin called for ‘diplomatic calm’.

He said: ‘Allies with extensive economic, scientific and cultural ties should not be engaging in a diplomatic tit-for-tat that erodes the goodwill and cooperation built up over decades. 

‘Calm heads need to take control of the situation otherwise there will be a risk to some $2 billion dollars in bilateral trade, extensive investment in Australian start-ups, vital security cooperation and the Israeli-made medicine and medical technology that we all rely on. 

‘There are real-life consequences here and we want to see the countries work through any issues before things get out of hand.’ 

Last Monday, Albanese announced Australia will follow the UK, France and Canada in recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

‘A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza,’ he said.

The Prime Minister said his government made the decision after receiving commitments from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas would play no role in any future state.

‘There is a moment of opportunity here, and Australia will work with the international community to seize it,’ he said.

Netanyahu previously criticised the move as ‘disappointing’ and ‘shameful’. 

On Sunday, August 3, tens of thousands of Australians attended a pro-Palestinian march across Sydney Harbour Bridge, following a Supreme Court ruling that allowed the demonstration to take place.