Australia's government has launched a ferocious diplomatic broadside against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of exploiting the memory of the Holocaust for political gain in a move that signals a significant deterioration in bilateral relations.
Acting Prime Minister Tony Burke, leading the nation in Anthony Albanese's absence, did not mince words during a press conference in Sydney. He labelled Netanyahu's recent comments, which drew a direct parallel between contemporary critics of Israel's military actions in Gaza and Nazi collaborators, as "disgusting" and a profound insult to victims of the genocide.
"To take the most horrific, murderous act of antisemitism in history and use it for a domestic political argument, to use it in the way that the prime minister of Israel has, is disgusting," Burke stated, his remarks carrying the full weight of the Australian government's position.
The Speech That Ignited a Firestorm
The incendiary remarks were delivered by Netanyahu in a televised address, where he defended his government's prosecution of the war in Gaza. The Israeli leader argued that those who today level accusations of war crimes against the Israel Defense Forces are no different from those who turned a blind eye to the persecution of Jews in the 1930s and 40s.
This historical analogy has been met with widespread outrage from Jewish communities and historians globally, who argue it trivialises the systematic murder of six million Jews and is a blatant misappropriation of history to silence legitimate criticism.
A Firm and Unwavering Stance
Burke's condemnation underscores a hardening of Australia's stance. He emphasised that his rebuke was not a critique of Israel's right to defend itself following the 7 October Hamas attacks, but a specific denunciation of the Prime Minister's choice of language.
"This is not about the state of Israel and its right to defend itself. It is about the words of a leader," Burke clarified, drawing a firm distinction between the nation's security and the rhetoric of its head of government.
The acting PM, who is also a prominent figure within Australia's large Jewish community, stressed that his outrage was shared by many who see Netanyahu's comments as a dangerous politicisation of one of history's darkest chapters.
Broader Implications and International Reaction
This very public dressing-down from a key Western ally represents a new low in Netanyahu's international standing. It follows months of growing global concern over the high civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has tested the support of even Israel's staunchest allies.
Australia's forceful language places it alongside other nations expressing deepening unease, potentially influencing the broader diplomatic discourse surrounding the conflict and increasing pressure on the Israeli government to moderate its approach, both militarily and rhetorically.
