Visa Refused: Australia Bars Israeli Lawmaker
On Monday, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that senior Israeli politician Simcha Rothman had been denied a visa to enter Australia and won’t be allowed to reapply for another three years. Rothman, a key figure in the Israeli government and chair of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, had intended to visit on a solidarity mission with Australia’s Jewish community, which is currently facing an alarming rise in antisemitism.
“Our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division,” Burke said. “If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don’t want you here. Under our government, Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe, and feel safe.”
But what does “safe” really mean—and safe for whom?
Take a walk through the Sydney CBD any weekend and you’ll encounter plenty of individuals who openly preach division. Protesters march under Hamas and Hezbollah flags, chanting slogans like “From the river to the sea,” “Go back to Germany,” “F*** the Jews,” and “Gas the Jews.” Only two weeks ago, demonstrators crossed the Harbour Bridge with placards featuring Iran’s Ayatollah. But these voices, somehow, don’t seem to concern Minister Burke.
He claims his government is targeting divisive figures—but Jewish community events, which routinely call for peace, coexistence, and solidarity, are hardly hotbeds of hate. Compare that to the rhetoric of some radical Islamic leaders operating in Australia. Imam Wissam Haddad, of the Al-Madinah Dawah Centre in Bankstown, has publicly described Jews as “vile,” “treacherous,” and “descendants of pigs.” Former Mufti Taj El-Din Hilaly once accused Jews of “causing all wars” and dismissed the Holocaust as a “Zionist lie.”
Are these the people Minister Burke believes are making Australia safer and more unified?
Rothman isn’t the first to be banned. In June, tech entrepreneur and Israeli philanthropist Hillel Fuld—who has helped hundreds of startups launch and scale—was also denied entry to Australia. His keynote address, which focused on innovation, resilience, and building a better future, was cancelled. Fuld is also a vocal supporter of Israel’s right to exist and defend itself following the October 7 attacks.
His visa was revoked under section 128 of the Migration Act, on the grounds that his presence might pose a risk to “the health, safety or good order” of Australians—based on alleged “Islamophobic rhetoric.” The irony couldn’t be starker. Burke is now banning politicians from a democratic ally.
While the Albanese government targets pro-Israel voices, it continues to drift from traditional allies like the United States, and seems increasingly sympathetic to groups like Hamas. Last week, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned Prime Minister Albanese’s abrupt recognition of a Palestinian state as “disgusting,” poorly timed, and diplomatically irresponsible—particularly because it was done without prior consultation with Washington. Huckabee warned the move could derail ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
Instead of strengthening ties with democratic allies, we’re aligning ourselves with totalitarian regimes. Chinese Premier Li Qiang recently called Albanese a “handsome boy,” even as China conducted military drills off our coastline, first reported not by the ADF, but by Virgin Australia pilots.
Back home, antisemitism is not just tolerated, it’s flourishing. In the Melbourne suburb of Bentleigh, a local hairdresser refused service to an Israeli man, calling him a “baby killer.” Her salon window is plastered with LGBTQ+ and “inclusivity” stickers, alongside a sign reading: “Zionists not welcome.” The hypocrisy is breathtaking. The group she implicitly supports, Hamas, criminalizes homosexuality and tortures and executes LGBTQ+ individuals. In 2016, Hamas executed one of its own commanders, Mahmoud Ishtiwi, reportedly for being gay. There are no Pride marches in Gaza or Tehran—only in Tel Aviv.
These contradictions are now commonplace in Australian public life. Critical race theory, identity politics, and ideological activism dominate our education and cultural institutions, fracturing the nation along lines of race, gender, and political identity. Under the guise of inclusion, we’re encouraging exclusion. Under the banner of progress, we’re nurturing division.
If Minister Burke is genuinely concerned with keeping Australians safe, he should start by applying his own standards equally. Stop the selective outrage. Stop punishing those who stand against terrorism and support liberal democracy.
Real safety comes from consistency, the rule of law, and an unwavering defense of free speech and equality. Not from pandering to the loudest extremists (in his electorate) or excluding those who dare to speak uncomfortable truths.