'His record is forever tarnished': Netanyahu escalates personal attack on Albanese

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated his verbal battle connected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arsenic nan negotiated relations betwixt nan brace proceed to fray.

Albanese insisted he "doesn't return these things personally" aft Netanyahu publically labelled him a "weak leader who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews" complete his promised nickname of a Palestinian authorities and visa rejection for a far-right Israeli politician.

But Netanyahu has now travel retired again to echo his anger complete Albanese's "weakness" successful a uncommon question and reply pinch an Australian news outlet.

"I'm judge he has a reputable grounds arsenic a nationalist servant, but I deliberation his grounds is everlastingly tarnished by nan weakness that he showed successful nan look of these Hamas violent monsters," Netanyahu told Sky News Australia successful an question and reply group to aerial tonight.

"When nan worst violent organisation connected earth, these savages who murdered women, raped them, beheaded men, burnt babies live successful beforehand of their parents, took hundreds of hostages, erstwhile these group congratulate nan Prime Minister of Australia, you cognize thing is wrong."

Albanese has yet to respond to nan latest remarks. 

The breakdown successful relations comes successful nan aftermath of sanctions connected 2 far-right Israeli politicians and nan displacement successful position connected Palestinian statehood. 

Australia joined nan United Kingdom, Canada and France successful promising to recognise Palestine astatine nan UN General Assembly successful September. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar connected Monday retaliated by revoking nan visas of Australian representatives successful Palestine.

He besides instructed nan Israeli Embassy successful Canberra to "carefully examine" immoderate Australian visa exertion to Israel aft Australia denied introduction to Israeli lawmaker and personnel of nan Religious Zionism Party Simcha Rotman, whose statement supports nan continuation of nan warfare connected Gaza, nan wide relocation of Palestinians and nan reestablishment of Jewish settlements successful Gaza.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said nan move was an "unjustified reaction" and accused nan Netanyahu authorities of "isolating Israel and undermining world efforts towards bid and a two-state solution".

Netanyahu besides penned a scathing missive to Albanese, shared by nan Australian Jewish Association, successful which he said nan support for a Palestinian authorities "pours substance connected this antisemitic fire" and gave him a deadline to reverse his position.

"Prime Minister, antisemitism is simply a cancer. It spreads erstwhile leaders enactment silent. It retracts erstwhile leaders act. I telephone upon you to switch weakness pinch action, appeasement pinch resolve, and to do truthful by a clear date: nan Jewish New Year, September 23, 2025," Netanyahu wrote successful a missive dated August 17.

"History will not forgive hesitation. It will honour action." 

Then, successful an bonzer and nationalist escalation, Netanyahu called Albanese a "weak politician".

"History will retrieve Albanese for what he is: A anemic leader who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews," Netanyahu said successful a station connected X connected Tuesday.

Albanese brushed disconnected nan individual onslaught and said: "I dainty leaders of different countries pinch respect and I prosecute pinch them successful a negotiated way."

"I don't return these things personally. He has had akin things to opportunity astir different leaders," he said yesterday.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke came retired successful nan premier minister's defence, telling nan ABC: "Strength is not measured by really galore group you tin rustle up, aliases really galore children you tin time off hungry."

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said that while nan premier curate deserved respect, he had "mismanaged world relationships".

"This is simply a nonstop consequence of bad decisions he and his authorities person taken that do not beforehand Australia's interests," she said.

But nan guidance leader successful Israel, Yair Lapid, has alternatively pointed nan digit astatine Netanyahu for souring relations.

"The point that strengthens a leader successful nan antiauthoritarian world coming astir is simply a confrontation pinch Netanyahu, nan astir politically toxic leader successful nan Western world. It is unclear why Bibi is successful specified a hurry to springiness nan Australian premier curate this gift," Lapid said connected X.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay crossed each nan latest successful breaking news, sport, authorities and nan upwind via our news app and get notifications sent consecutive to your smartphone. Available connected the Apple App Store and Google Play.