Australia Cancels Visa for Far-Right Israeli Politician ahead of Speaking Tour
The Australian government canceled the visa of the far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman on Monday ahead of his speaking tour, according to AFP.
Rothman, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, was scheduled to speak at events hosted by the Australian Jewish Association.
However, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia would never welcome people coming to the country to “spread division.”
“If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don’t want you here,” Burke said.
Therefore, Rothman is barred from traveling to Australia for the next three years due to the visa cancellation.
In an interview earlier this year with Britain’s Channel 4 News, Rothman rejected that Palestinian children in Gaza were losing their souls out of hunger because of Israel’s blockade on food and humanitarian aid.
Moreover, when asked why Israel was denying Palestinian children the opportunity to flee to Israel, he described Palestinians as “enemies.”
Meanwhile, Australian Jewish Association Chief Executive Robert Gregory said that Rothman’s visit sought to “show solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community, which is facing a wave of antisemitism.”
Consequently, Gregory described the cancelation of Rothman’s visa as “a viciously antisemitic move.”
He also accused the Australian government of being “obsessed” with targeting both the Jewish community and Israel.
Related Topics:
Israel’s Far Right Urges Netanyahu to Escalate Gaza Offensive Ahead of UN Talks
Netherlands Imposes Travel Bans on Israeli Ministers, Summons Ambassador
Slovenia Announces 2 Israeli Ministers Persona Non Grata
