Australia's Labor government refused entry to former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked on Thursday, citing her opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state as the reason for the decision.
In its response to her visa application, the Australian government indicated that her presence could potentially "hurt the feelings of a different group" within the country.
Shaked was set to participate in an Australia-Israel dialogue organized by AIJAC, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
Reacting to the decision, Shaked issued a strong statement condemning the Australian government. “This decision exposes the hypocrisy and hostility of a government that claims to uphold democracy but silences dissenting voices that oppose its pro-Palestinian agenda. Preventing me, a former Israeli minister, from entering solely due to my stance against the creation of a Palestinian terror state reveals their true alignment—with Israel's enemies,” she said.
Shaked further criticized the impact of the decision on Israel-Australia relations. "This is a government choosing to damage the historic ties between our nations, standing against Israel while empowering those who oppose it."
She concluded her statement by calling the decision "antisemitic" and labeling it "a black day for Australian democracy."
* Arutz 7 contributed to this report.