Reply To Israel's Insults, Australia: Strength Is Not Out Of How Many Children Are Left By Netanyahu To Starve

Children south of the Gaza Strip who were victims of Israeli attacks on Palestinians are starving in line for food distribution from humanitarian agencies. (UNICEF-Abed Zagout)

JAKARTA - Australia has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for insulting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a weak politician.

According to Australia's Interior Minister, Tony Burke, Netanyahu's statement is a sign of a frustrated leader wanting to continue to "attack".

"The power is not measured by how many people you can touch or how many children you can let go hungry," Burke told national broadcaster ABC, Wednesday, August 20, quoted by AFP.

"What we've seen from some of the actions they [Israel] took, are Israel's continued isolation from the world, and that's also not in their favor," Burke continued.

Since the 1950s, Australia has been a haven for Jews fleeing the Holocaust.

Melbourne once housed, per capita, the largest Holocaust survivor population outside Israel.

For decades too, Australia has considered Israel's close friends. However, diplomatic relations changed 360 degrees after Australia announced last week it would recognize Palestine as a sovereign nation.

Israel is known to want to continue annexing Palestinian territory in violation of international legitimacy.

Netanyahu was then furious when Australia said it would recognize Palestinian countries next month, following similar promises from France, Canada, and Britain.

Within nine days of the decision, relations between Australia and Israel have deteriorated.