<figure id="attachment_3138208" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3138208" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3138208" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/053cf874-embassy-australia-israel.jpg" alt="Embassy Australia Israel" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3138208" class="wp-caption-text">Israel revoked visas held by Canberra&#8217;s diplomatic representatives to the Palestinian Authority in Tel Aviv. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
SYDNEY: Australia&#8217;s foreign minister on Tuesday criticised Israel for revoking visas held by Canberra&#8217;s diplomatic representatives to the Palestinian Authority.
Israel&#8217;s tit-for-tat move followed Australia&#8217;s decision on Monday evening to block a far-right Israeli politician from the country ahead of a speaking tour.
Australia and Israel have been increasingly at odds since Canberra declared it would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said revoking the diplomats&#8217; visas was an &#8220;unjustified reaction&#8221; by Israel.
&#8220;At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu Government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution,&#8221; she said in a statement.
The Australian government on Monday cancelled the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, whose party is within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#8217;s governing coalition.
Rothman had been scheduled to speak at events organised by the Australian Jewish Association.
Hours later, Israel&#8217;s foreign minister Gideon Saar said he had revoked the visas of Australia&#8217;s representatives to the Palestinian Authority.
&#8220;I also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;This follows Australia&#8217;s decisions to recognise a &#8216;Palestinian state&#8217; and against the backdrop of Australia&#8217;s unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures.&#8221;

MatchPoint Times

Australia chides Israel after diplomats’ visas revoked

The tit-for-tat move followed the blocking of a far-right Israeli politician from entering ahead of a speaking tour.

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