Israel Seeks Traditional Friendship Reset With Australia Ahead of October 7 Anniversary
As Australia and Israel approach the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks, Israeli ambassador Hillel Newman is pushing for a diplomatic reset to restore historical ties between the two nations. Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s commemorations, Newman acknowledged that relations have grown strained, but emphasized that both countries should not let policy disagreements overshadow their traditional friendship, according to The Guardian.
The diplomatic outreach arrives against a backdrop of severe friction between Canberra and Jerusalem. In recent weeks, Israel’s foreign ministry publicly criticized Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on social media, labeling comments she made at the United Nations regarding West Bank settler violence as a blatant lie. This followed earlier diplomatic interventions where Israel urged the Australian Labor Party to soften draft policy platform language condemning settler violence and a controversial death penalty law.
Bilateral ties experienced a near breakdown following the October 7, 2023, attacks in which Hamas militants killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostages. Subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of more than 74,000 Palestinians. In response, the Australian government joined international partners including the UK, Canada, and New Zealand to sanction Israeli politicians Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich over incitement allegations, though Canberra stopped short of joining the UK and other partners in imposing a ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Aid Worker Death and Disputed Accountability Deepen Diplomatic Rifts
Relations suffered another blow in April 2024 when Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed alongside colleagues in a humanitarian convoy struck by Israeli drones. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Wong condemned a subsequent August decision by the Israel Defense Forces not to pursue criminal proceedings over Frankcom’s death.
When pressed regarding Israel’s failure to release audio from the strike, Newman stated the matter rests with the Israeli military. However, he maintained that his country remains open to discussions regarding potential reparations for Frankcom’s family. Wong confirmed that the Australian government continues working closely with the Frankcom family to press for justice.
The Australian government will not stop pressing Israel for justice for Zomi and her colleagues,
Wong said in an official statement, noting that the federal government mourns all victims of the conflict, including Australian Galit Carbone.
Palestinian Community Leaders Urge Federal Action
Leaders of Australia’s Palestinian community argue that federal authorities should do more to help the local diaspora, which they report has suffered since the war on Gaza. Nasser Mashni, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, stated that the impact from three years’ of war generates profound domestic fallout, describing a relentless erosion of belonging for Palestinian Australians.
Meanwhile, political reactions across Australia’s parliament remain divided. Greens leader David Shoebridge reiterated his party’s condemnation of the October 7 attacks alongside ongoing genocide in Gaza and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. On the opposing side, Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson argued that the October 7 attack has changed Australia in terrible ways, pointing toward rising domestic tensions that culminated in the Bondi attack.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, warned that troubled, uncertain times lie ahead for us all, while asserting that extremist violence has failed to turn the majority of Australians against their Jewish friends and neighbours.
Worth a look