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Australia's peak Jewish organization called Wednesday for both governments to end their public diplomatic spat and conduct relations privately after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over Palestine recognition.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry expressed "profound" concern about rapidly deteriorating relations between the two allied nations, warning that the public exchange of criticism threatens decades of beneficial bilateral cooperation.
"The community is profoundly disturbed and concerned by the rapidly deteriorating state of relations between our government and the government of the state of Israel," said Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. "None of this is served or advanced through this public exchange of insults that's taking place right now."
The diplomatic crisis erupted after Australia announced its recognition of Palestine as a state, prompting Netanyahu to publicly accuse Albanese of abandoning the Australian Jewish community. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revealed Wednesday that Albanese telephoned Netanyahu before the Cabinet decision to give advance notice of Australia's position.
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Ryvchin emphasized that ordinary citizens in both countries benefit enormously from strong bilateral relations through academic exchanges, scientific collaboration and medical research partnerships.
"Behind the leaders of both countries are people, ordinary people, Israelis and Australians, who both benefit in enormous ways, in unimaginable ways, from the strong bilateral relations between the two countries," he said.
The Jewish leader called for immediate de-escalation, urging both governments to "remember what's at stake" and "conduct their matters of state privately, diplomatically, and with respect for the longstanding relationship between the two countries."
Despite the tensions, Ryvchin rejected suggestions that Australia's Jewish community feels abandoned by the Albanese government, though he acknowledged ongoing concerns about the handling of antisemitism issues.
"We've expressed concerns for nearly two years now about some of the government's rhetoric and policies in handling of the antisemitism crisis," he said. "We've had serious misgivings, and we've made them known. But we've never felt abandoned."
The diplomatic row has been exacerbated by Australia's recent denial of a visa to Israeli Knesset member Simcha Rotman, who was scheduled to speak at Australian synagogues. Ryvchin defended Rotman while criticizing the visa decision.
"This person is a pretty fringe political figure in Israel. His political party most recently polled at about 2.5% in polls published in Israel a few months ago," Ryvchin said. "I don't believe that there's a serious case to be made that his arrival in this country to speak at synagogues to those who want to come along and listen to him would have upended public order in this country."
The visa denial, Ryvchin argued, was "a mistake" that should have been handled through private diplomatic channels rather than public announcements.
When asked about the manner of Netanyahu's public criticism, Ryvchin acknowledged it was inappropriate while understanding the Israeli leader's concerns.
"It's clear to me that the Israeli Prime Minister, as the leader of the Jewish state, feels a sense of responsibility for what happens to Jews in this country and around the world, and that's fine," he said. "But it's the manner in which these things are conveyed that's important."
Ryvchin criticized the use of social media for diplomatic disputes, saying allies should "speak frankly, robustly, but also in a dignified way."
"I think firing off tweets which contain elements of abuse to them, I don't think that's the way to operate," he said.
The public spat risks creating lasting damage to relationships that extend far beyond government-to-government ties, according to Ryvchin.
"It pits the two countries as rivals, or it creates a sense of animosity between them, which has never been the case historically," he said. "There have been disagreements on matters of policy, but always conducted in a dignified, respectful, substantive manner."
The bilateral relationship encompasses significant people-to-people connections, with tens of thousands of Australians visiting Israel annually for religious pilgrimages and extensive scientific collaboration between the two nations.
"There are many Australians, tens of thousands every year, that go on pilgrimage to Israel to have free access to the holy sites there," Ryvchin said. "The scientific and medical research between the two countries is immense as well."
While expressing hope that the dispute represents "just rhetoric that can blow over," Ryvchin warned of potential long-term consequences if the situation escalates.
"This needs to be preserved at all costs, and these public tit-for-tats really undermine that, and we need to get back to having a strong, meaningful relationship and a conversation between governments," he said.
The Jewish leader acknowledged that different segments of Australian society would have varying reactions to the diplomatic crisis, with some supporting Netanyahu's intervention and others rallying behind Albanese.
"But regardless of the kind of short-term political mileage that's to be gained from these things, there's so much at stake in terms of the communities, in terms of people, in terms of bilateral relations," he said.
Ryvchin also expressed broader concerns about Australia's international reputation during the past two years of Middle East tensions.
"This country has rightly earned a reputation as being a haven, as being a beacon of multiculturalism, of dignity and respect and tolerance of how we conduct ourselves and how we disagree respectfully on issues," he said. "I think in the last two years, that reputation has been trashed and tarnished."
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry represents Jewish communities across Australia and regularly engages with government on issues affecting the community. The organization has maintained dialogue with the Albanese government throughout recent Middle East tensions while expressing concerns about rising antisemitism domestically.
The diplomatic rift comes as Australia joins a growing number of Western nations recognizing Palestinian statehood, with 147 countries worldwide now extending such recognition. The move has drawn criticism from Israel's government while receiving support from other international partners.
Both governments now face pressure to restore diplomatic normalcy while managing domestic political considerations related to their respective Middle East policies.
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