Canberra reacted sharply to the words of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu that the Australian prime minister is weak, with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke saying that strength is not measured by "how many people you can blow up", reported Agence France-Presse, BTA reported.
For decades, Australia has considered itself a close friend of Israel, but relations between the two countries have sharply deteriorated after Canberra announced last week that it would recognize a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu dramatically escalated the war of words after yesterday calling his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese "a weak politician who has betrayed Israel".
Australia's Home Affairs Minister today said that Netanyahu's words were a sign of anger. "Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can starve", Burke said on Australia's ABC News. "We see Israel's continued isolation from the world and that is not in their interest", the home affairs minister added.
Australia on Monday revoked the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, who is a member of Netanyahu's ruling coalition, arguing that his visit would "cause division".
The next day, Israel revoked the visas of Australian representatives accredited to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. Later in the day, Netanyahu wrote on the social network "Ex": "History will remember Albanese for what he is - a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australian Jews".