The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to cancel the visa of Israeli Member of Knesset Simcha Rothman.
Rothman, a senior figure in Israel’s far-right Religious Zionist Party, has openly dehumanised and normalised harm towards Palestinian children, advocated for the mass displacement of Palestinians from their homeland, and promoted the illegal annexation of occupied Palestinian land.
His presence in Australia would have further legitimised the rising scourge of hate speech and attacks against Palestinians.
Rothman’s visit was being organised by the right-wing Australian Jewish Association (AJA), which billed it as a “solidarity tour to show support for Australia’s Jewish community.”
In truth, this was an effort to normalise the violent settler-colonialism that underpins Zionism, and whitewash Rothman’s incitement and support for war crimes.
APAN commends the government for taking the principled and necessary step of cancelling his visa, consistent with its stated policy of denying a platform to figures promoting hate and violence.
Comments attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
“Rothman has a documented record of dehumanising Palestinians and advocating crimes against humanity. He should never have been granted a platform in Australia.
“The Australian Jewish Association’s attempt to dress Rothman’s hate-filled agenda up as ‘solidarity’ is disgraceful. This is nothing but an attempt to normalise and spread extremism and anti-Palestinian hate.
“Rothman, and those promoting Israel’s genocide, illegal occupation and anti-Palestinian hate, must never be allowed to set foot in this country.”