The diplomatic relations between the pair continue to fray.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his verbal assault on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as the diplomatic relations between the pair continue to fray.
Albanese insisted he "doesn't take these things personally" after Netanyahu publicly labelled him a "weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews" over his promised recognition of a Palestinian state and visa rejection for a far-right Israeli politician.
But Netanyahu has now come out again to echo his anger over Albanese's "weakness" in a rare interview with an Australian news outlet.
READ MORE: Israeli army's plan for Gaza occupation facing big manpower problem
"I'm sure he has a reputable record as a public servant, but I think his record is forever tarnished by the weakness that he showed in the face of these Hamas terrorist monsters," Netanyahu told Sky News Australia in an interview set to air tonight.
"When the worst terrorist organisation on earth, these savages who murdered women, raped them, beheaded men, burnt babies alive in front of their parents, took hundreds of hostages, when these people congratulate the Prime Minister of Australia, you know something is wrong."
Albanese has yet to respond to the latest remarks.
The breakdown in relations comes in the wake of sanctions on two far-right Israeli politicians and the shift in position on Palestinian statehood.
Australia joined the United Kingdom, Canada and France in promising to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September.
https://x.com/gidonsaar/status/1957400330875896095Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Monday retaliated by revoking the visas of Australian representatives in Palestine.
He also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to "carefully examine" any Australian visa application to Israel after Australia denied entry to Israeli lawmaker and member of the Religious Zionism Party Simcha Rotman, whose party supports the continuation of the war on Gaza, the mass relocation of Palestinians and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the move was an "unjustified reaction" and accused the Netanyahu government of "isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution".
READ MORE: Man and dog pulled to safety in daring flood rescue
Netanyahu also penned a scathing letter to Albanese, shared by the Australian Jewish Association, in which he said the support for a Palestinian state "pours fuel on this antisemitic fire" and gave him a deadline to reverse his position.
"Prime Minister, antisemitism is a cancer. It spreads when leaders stay silent. It retracts when leaders act. I call upon you to replace weakness with action, appeasement with resolve, and to do so by a clear date: the Jewish New Year, September 23, 2025," Netanyahu wrote in a letter dated August 17.
"History will not forgive hesitation. It will honour action."
Then, in an extraordinary and public escalation, Netanyahu called Albanese a "weak politician".
"History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews," Netanyahu said in a post on X on Tuesday.
https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1957722795049398502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1957722795049398502%7Ctwgr%5E413567057a98ae8d859cf7c60e4673fec15d37b1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.9news.com.au%2Fworld%2Fbenjamin-netanyahu-anthony-albanese-promise-to-recognise-palestinian-state-amid-israel-war-gaza%2F9a65cbfb-edad-434b-b3c0-f5084984b084Albanese brushed off the personal attack and said: "I treat leaders of other countries with respect and I engage with them in a diplomatic way."
"I don't take these things personally. He has had similar things to say about other leaders," he said yesterday.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke came out in the prime minister's defence, telling the ABC: "Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up, or how many children you can leave hungry."
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said that while the prime minister deserved respect, he had "mismanaged international relationships".
"This is a direct consequence of bad decisions he and his government have taken that do not advance Australia's interests," she said.
But the opposition leader in Israel, Yair Lapid, has instead pointed the finger at Netanyahu for souring relations.
"The thing that strengthens a leader in the democratic world today most is a confrontation with Netanyahu, the most politically toxic leader in the Western world. It is unclear why Bibi is in such a hurry to give the Australian prime minister this gift," Lapid said on X.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
'Unnecessary anxiety': Inside $2bn move to divert children with autism off NDIS
Second man charged over Melbourne synagogue arson attack
Coconut yoghurt recalled for 'undeclared allergen'
MP Robbie Katter and pregnant wife walk away from 'traumatic' light plane crash
Doctor accused of filming staff in hospital bathrooms hit with 127 fresh charges
Man found not guilty of murdering man in confrontation
Bruce Lehrmann judge 'distracted' by cover-up, lawyer says
CCTV shows violent attack on one of NSW's most notorious prisoners
It took decades for doctors to diagnose Richard's anorexia. He is not alone
Giant sinkhole appears at sporting oval on Sydney's north shore
'Lazy tax' could be costing Aussies six figures of super
French streamer dies live online during extreme challenge
Mystery 'gem' spider discovered in Perth bushland
Part of US plane's wing breaks off during flight
Australia directly in the firing line of 'catastrophic' shift
Scientists get a rare peek inside of an exploding star
Has your data been leaked? It could be waiting for the highest bidder on the dark web
