Israeli PM Is Increasingly Angry With Australian PM: His Track Record Will Be Nominated Forever

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu/screenshot via Instagram @b.netanyahu

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday again expressed his anger at Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese because of Australia's decision to recognize the Palestinian state. Netanyahu said Albanese's track record was tarnished forever.

Diplomatic relations between Australia and Israel have deteriorated since Albanese's centre-left Labor government last week announced it would recognize the Palestinian state conditionally, following similar steps taken by France, Britain, and Canada.

The decision prompted Netanyahu to 'attack' Albanese personally. The Israeli PM again criticized him in an interview to be broadcast on Sky News Australia.

"I think his track record will forever be tarnished by the weaknesses he has shown in dealing with this Hamas terrorist monster," Netanyahu said.

Previously, Netanyahu called Albanese a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australian Jews.

Sky News Australia released the statement before the full interview broadcast on Thursday at 20.00 local time.

Albanese on Wednesday responded casually to Netanyahu's criticism, saying he did not respond personally. Albanese insists he treats the leaders of other countries with respect.

Last week, Albanese said Israeli Prime Ministers "refuge" the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of the risk of widespread hunger and increasing international pressure for Israel to allow indefinite aid into the region.

Australia's Jewish Executive Council, in a separate letter sent Wednesday to the two leaders, urged them to discuss differences through diplomacy, instead of pretending to be public.

"We write to express our deep disappointment and concern over the recent 'war of words'," the letter said.

"If there are things that need to be conveyed openly, it must be conveyed using measurable and appropriate language, in accordance with national leaders. Australia and Israel are mature democracies and their governments need to act accordingly," the council said.

Israel this week revoked the visa of Australian diplomats for the Palestinian Authority after the Albanese government canceled the visa of an Israeli lawmaker for a statement deemed controversial and provocative.