Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to Visit Israel Amid Strained Ties

Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 12, 2022. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, the highest-ranking Jewish MP in the Australian government, is preparing to visit Israel amid escalating tensions between the Albanese Labor government and the Netanyahu administration.

The announcement follows deteriorating relations between the two nations in late 2024, largely driven by differing stances on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a series of anti-Semitic incidents in Australia’s major cities.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended Dreyfus’s upcoming visit, noting that it was important for leaders to engage directly with international partners.

“Mark Dreyfus is an appropriate person to visit Israel,” Albanese told reporters. “We have people regularly visit our friends, and Mark Dreyfus is visiting.”

Dreyfus, whose father was a Holocaust survivor, has largely avoided the brunt of the fallout from these tensions, maintaining his standing within Australia’s Jewish community.

The visit is expected to last approximately one week, and it is hoped that it will provide an opportunity for direct communication at a time of heightened political and diplomatic uncertainty.

Diplomatic Strain and the UN Vote

The Albanese government’s decision to support a U.N. resolution on Dec. 3, 2024, calling for Israel to end its “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” has been a major point of contention. Australia joined 157 countries in backing the motion, while eight, including Israel, the United States, and Argentina, voted against it.

This marked a significant shift in Australia’s foreign policy, traditionally aligned with Israel, and created a diplomatic rift between Canberra and Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned Australia’s stance, linking it to a rise in anti-Semitic acts within the country.

The comments came on Dec. 6 in response to the firebombing of Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, injuring two individuals. They were the first direct criticism of the Australian government from Israel, as Netanyahu pointed to Labor’s position at the U.N. as a catalyst for such acts of violence.

“The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism,” Netanyahu wrote on social media.

He accused the Albanese government of opening the door to such attacks through its “extreme anti-Israeli position” and said the support for the U.N. resolution was “scandalous.”

The Domestic Backlash

At home, the Albanese government has also faced pressure over its foreign policy shift.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton strongly criticised Labor’s position, accusing the prime minister of prioritising political gain over the welfare of the Jewish community in Australia.

Dutton suggested that Labor was trying to appease Green Party voters in key marginal seats, arguing that the government had “sold out” the Jewish community in exchange for votes.

“The prime minister stands condemned for his actions. He’s sacrificed the wellbeing of the Jewish community to cater to Green voters,” Dutton said.

Outgoing Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham and Shadow Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Claire Chandler were also critical of Labor, accusing the government of abandoning longstanding Australian positions at the U.N.

They argued that the shift in policy would not lead to peace or improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza but would only embolden terrorists and authoritarian regimes.