Australia bans Israeli politician over Gaza, West Bank comments
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Australia bars MK Simcha Rothman, citing hate speech, after he pushed for "Israel’s" full control of the occupied West Bank and dehumanized Palestinians in Gaza.
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Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman, center, in the Knesset, "Israel's" parliament, on July 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
A far-right Israeli lawmaker, Simcha Rothman, has been denied entry to Australia, where he was scheduled to take part in a "solidarity tour" in Sydney and Melbourne. Rothman, a Knesset member from the Religious Zionism party and a supporter of "Israel’s" total occupation of the occupied West Bank, has drawn controversy for inflammatory comments, including describing Palestinian children in Gaza as "enemies."
Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, confirmed on Monday that Rothman’s visa application had been rejected and he would be unable to reapply for three years.
"Our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division," Burke said, adding, "If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don’t want you here."
Rothman has been an outspoken opponent of a "Two-State solution" and previously backed Donald Trump’s proposal to remove Palestinians from Gaza. In a May interview, he claimed Palestinian children in Gaza should not be allowed to flee into "Israel", stating: "They are our enemies … you don’t let them conquer your country with refugees."
In July, Rothman helped initiate a symbolic motion in the Knesset to "apply" Israeli sovereignty to the occupied West Bank, which passed 71–13. He also authored a bill to change all legal references to the West Bank to "Judea and Samaria," saying the measure would "rectify a historical injustice" and strengthen Jewish claims to the territory.
Reactions from Jewish Groups in Australia
The planned visit was organized by the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), which described Rothman’s appearances as a show of solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community. The AJA argued that his trip was "not connected to current events in the Middle East," saying it sought to give the community access to a range of political views.
By contrast, the Progressive Jewish Council of Australia welcomed the visa rejection, warning that Rothman’s tour risked encouraging support for the Israeli government’s hardline policies.
Following the announcement, Rothman accused the Albanese government of "clear and blatant antisemitism," claiming the decision was aimed not at him but at "the state of Israel and the people of Israel."
It is worth noting that Rothman is a close ally of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, both sanctioned by the Albanese government in June. He also played a central role in pushing for judicial reforms, allowing the Knesset to override Supreme Court rulings and give politicians control over judicial appointments.
