Former Israeli MP denied visa on grounds she may ‘vilify’ Australians

A right-wing former Israeli government minister has been denied a visa on grounds she may “vilify” Australians and “incite discord”, The Australian reports.

Ayelet Shaked, Israel’s former Interior and Justice Minister, was due to attend a security conference in Canberra next week.

Late on Thursday she was informed by the Home Affairs Department that her visitor visa application had been refused on character grounds.

“After careful consideration … a delegate of the Minister has decided to refuse to grant you a visa,” the department said.

Ms Shaked was barred under sections of the Migration Act that allow the Minister to deny a visa if he believes the applicant could “vilify a segment of the Australian community, or incite discord in the Australian community or in a segment of that community”.

Home Affairs has been contacted for comment.

Ms Shaked blasted the rejection as “shameful”.

“This political decision of this government is nothing short of a hostile anti-Semitic act,” she told The Australian.

“Just last year, I was welcomed as a guest in this country. This decision is an affront to the Jewish community and a stain on the Australian government’s moral standing. It betrays the principles of friendship and solidarity that should bind democracies together.”

Ms Shaked has been an outspoken advocate of Israel’s right to defend itself following the October 7 attacks last year.

Speaking to Sky News Australia in December, Ms Shaked said the Hamas terrorist group must “surrender or die”.

“From our perspective, the Hamas leadership should surrender or die,” she said. “They are all dead men walking — after what they did, after the massacre.”

She had been due to take part in the Canberra-Jerusalem Strategic Dialogue, hosted by the Australian/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) and defence think tank Strategic Analysis Australia.

AIJAC executive director Colin Rubenstein said it was a “disgraceful act of hostility towards a democratic ally”, while the federal opposition also condemned the decision.

Labor has recently taken a harder stance against Israel over its wars in Gaza and Lebanon, sparking a growing backlash from Jewish Australians.

Last month the Coalition’s foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the Albanese government had “trashed” Australia’s “decades-long” bipartisan position on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

His comments came after a government motion omitted that the UN-endorsed proposal “needs to be a negotiated two-state solution”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as well as a timeline for Palestinian statehood, but her Coalition counterpart said a ceasefire would do nothing for lasting peace if it was not “properly negotiated”.

Heightened tensions amid ongoing protests in Australia have seen several high-profile visa denials or cancellations.

Last month a US professor was kicked out after telling a rally at a Sydney mosque October 7 was a “good day”.

Far-right US commentator Candace Owens was also denied a visa for a speaking tour.

“From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about Mengele through to claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said of the decision.

“Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.”

frank.chung@news.com.au