SYDNEY: The Australian government revoked the visa of a far-right Israeli politician ahead of a speaking tour on Monday, a move event organizers labeled “satanic anti-Semitism.”
Simcha Rothman, whose party is part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, was scheduled to speak at events hosted by the Australian Jewish Association.
But Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia would not accept people who come to the country to “sow division.”
“If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hatred and division, we don’t want you here,” he said.
“Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe, and feel safe.”
As an automatic condition of the visa revocation, Rothman is unable to travel to Australia for three years.
Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory said Rothman’s visit was intended to “show solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community, which is facing a wave of anti-Semitism”.
He posted on social media that “the visit was in no way connected to current events in the Middle East”.
Gregory said the cancellation of Rothman’s visa was “a diabolically anti-Semitic move”, accusing the Australian government of “obsession” with targeting the Jewish community and Israel.
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