Minister Stands By Albanese As Australia-Israel Tensions Flare

‘Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up, or how many children you can leave hungry,’ Burke said

Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on July 17, 2024. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has stood by his prime minister after Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu published scathing comments on social media following an ongoing diplomatic spat over visas.

In his comments, Burke accused Netanyahu’s government of “blowing people up” and starving children.

The Home Affairs minister’s remarks come after Netanyahu labelled the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a “weak” politician.

Taking to social media platform X on Aug. 19, Netanyahu wrote: “History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”

Netanyahu’s post follows a string of recent events between the two nations, including Albanese’s recognition of a Palestinian state and Australia slamming the door on a visit from senior Israeli politician Simcha Rothman.

Israel retaliated against Australia’s repeated denial of entry of Israeli figures by revoking the visas of workers in Australia’s Representative Office in the West Bank.

The move prompted a response from Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who called it “unjustified” as she accused Israel of isolating itself from the world through its actions.

Minister Defends Albanese

Speaking on ABC Radio National on Aug. 20, Burke, who’s office is responsible for issuing and denying visas, defended Prime Minister Albanese

Like Wong, Burke accused Israel of isolating itself from the world.

“Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up, or how many children you can leave hungry,” Burke said.

“Strength is much better measured by exactly what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done, which is when there’s a decision that we know Israel won’t like, he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu.

“He has the conversation, he says exactly what we’re intending to do, and has the chance for the objections to be made person-to-person. And then, having heard them, makes the public announcement and does what needs to be done.”

Burke’s electorate covers a large expanse of Western Sydney and is home to a large Middle-Eastern population.

Meanwhile, Albanese did not trade rhetoric with Netanyahu, instead saying he would engage diplomatically.

“I don’t take these things personally. I engage with people diplomatically. [Netanyahu] has had similar things to say about other leaders,” he told reporters in Adelaide on Aug. 20.

“There is a global concern, because people want to see an end to the cycle of violence that we have seen for far too long. That is what Australians want to see as well.”

Letter to Albanese

In a document circulating online, which is allegedly correspondence sent by Netanyahu to Albanese on Aug. 17, the Australian leader is urged to change his stance on Palestinian statehood by the Jewish New Year on Sept. 23.

The Epoch Times could not independently verify the veracity of the letter.

It accuses Albanese of having intensified anti-Semitism in Australia by making the announcement.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press conference at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem on Aug. 10, 2025. ABIR SULTAN/POOL/AFP

“I am concerned with the alarming rise of anti-Semitism in Australia and the lack of decisive action by your government to confront it,” the letter reads.

The letter states that since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks on Israel, pro-Hamas extremists have been highly active in Australia, smashing up synagogues and desecrating Jewish cemeteries.

“These are not isolated incidents. Rather, it is an anti-Semitic tide that must be stopped,” the letter reads.

“Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this anti-Semitic fire. It is a gift to extremists. It appeases Hamas and Iran. Indeed, Hamas hailed it as a victory for their terrorism. This is not the way to advance Australian democracy, but to surrender before anti-Semitic terror.”

The letter praises U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions against anti-Semitism, including condemning those spreading hate and imposing new civil rights actions.

“History will not forgive hesitation. It will honour action,” the letter states.

Call to Restore Relationship

Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash also took to X, calling on the incumbent Labor government to put effort into restoring Australia’s diplomatic relationship with Israel.

“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has destroyed Australia’s relationship with our long-standing close ally Israel,” she said.

Senator Michaelia Cash during debate of the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2021 in the Senate at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on March 18, 2021. Sam Mooy/Getty Images

“This is a foreign policy humiliation and diplomatic crisis of Mr. Albanese’s own making.

“Mr. Albanese should act immediately to begin repairing this vital relationship.”

Cash questioned how relations between Australia and Israel had reached the current point.

“Our relationship with an ally that is fighting a war with terrorists who have been described as a death cult has completely imploded—while the terrorists are delighted with us and praising our PM,” she said.

Liberal Party Leader Sussan Ley said the current situation was severely damaging Australia’s long-standing, robust alliance with Israel.

“Respect goes both ways, and the series of events we have seen ... between Israel and Australia are regrettable. And that relationship has been and is being mismanaged,” she said.

She warned it was also having a spill-over effect on the relationship with the United States, Australia’s most important ally.

“The prime minister needs to explain how he is going to get this relationship that he has so badly mismanaged back on track,” she said.