A former right-leaning Israeli minister, who posted her support for the incoming Trump administration in the United States, has been denied a visa to enter Australia.
Ayelet Shaked was refused entry to Australia on “character grounds”—despite being previously welcomed to the country.
The former Israeli interior and justice minister was scheduled to attend the Canberra-Jerusalem Strategic Dialogue conference this month.
Shaked’s application to come back to Australia was banned under the Migration Act, which gives the minister discretion to deny a visa if the applicant’s presence may result in the vilification of segment of the community or could incite discord.
The visa cancellation has led many in Australia’s Jewish community to question the motives of the Labor government in dealing with its Middle Eastern ally.
“The issue here is not that I didn’t get a visa,” Shaked said on X, formerly Twitter.
“The issue here is that the current Australian government has become antisemitic.”
The visa refusal comes as authorities grapple with pro-Palestinian and anti-Jewish activists.
Zionist President Asks What Changed in 2 Years
Zionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler said the visa refusal was “both baffling and deeply offensive.”“Ayelet is a former justice minister in the most diverse and centrist Israeli government in history, which included an Israeli Arab party and minister,” he said in a statement on X.
“This refusal is particularly perplexing given that this very same government granted her a visa less than two years ago.”
Leibler said it raised questions about what had changed in Australia’s government in the years between Shaked’s gaining visa and her being refused.
“How is it conceivable that our government has granted a visa to a Palestinian man from Gaza who reportedly has had close family connections and personal interactions with terrorist organisations, yet refuses entry to a former government minister of a democratic nation and one of our Australia’s friends?” said Leibler.
Is Australia Backing Away From Israel?
Australia’s Labor government has also taken gradual steps to show growing support for Palestine.Australia recently split with the United States in backing a U.N. push for Palestinian sovereignty over the natural resources in disputed territories
It also backed a draft resolution for Israel to pay compensation to Lebanon over an oil spill in 2006 resulting from an Israeli airstrike.
The strike had come about during a 34-day armed conflict between Israel and terrorist group Hezbollah, after Hezbollah launched a cross-border attack killing eight Israelis while kidnapping others.
“Australia respects the independence of the ICC and its important role in upholding international law,” Wong said on X.
“Australia is focused on working with countries that want peace to press for an urgently needed ceasefire.”
The move was criticised by federal opposition MPs with Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie saying Australia should stand in solidarity with the United States.
Visa Issues for Right-Leaning, Conservatives
Meanwhile, Shaked is not the only conservative or right-leaning voice to be seemingly excluded from Australia by the Labor government this year.Her visa issues come just weeks after British women’s rights activist, Posie Parker, was unable to obtain entry to Australia.
Parker had been due to attend the Conservative Political Conference (CPAC) in Brisbane.
The popular podcaster told her followers she was notified she had not supplied the correct documentation for her visa application—with no information on what was missing—only to try again with later with no response.
Parker accused the Australian government of taking an indirect route to cancelling her presence in Australia.
