Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly addressed a letter he sent to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in August, warning that Australia’s foreign and domestic policy choices are contributing to a dangerous rise in antisemitism.

Speaking candidly, Netanyahu said he told the Australian leader that government rhetoric and policy decisions were “adding fuel to the fire of antisemitism on the streets.” He warned that such positions do not remain confined to diplomatic debates but instead spill into real-world hostility toward Jewish communities.

“I said it encourages Jew-hatred,” Netanyahu stated. “Antisemitism is a cancer – and it spreads when leaders are silent.”

The prime minister’s remarks come amid a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents across Australia, including threats, vandalism, and violent attacks targeting Jewish institutions and public gatherings. Israeli officials have repeatedly expressed concern that international political stances perceived as hostile toward Israel are emboldening extremists and legitimizing antisemitic narratives.

Netanyahu’s letter reportedly criticized what he described as insufficient action by the Albanese government to confront antisemitism, linking the surge in hostility to diplomatic positions that, in Israel’s view, undermine Jewish legitimacy and security. He stressed that condemning antisemitism must go beyond statements and translate into firm leadership, policy clarity, and law enforcement action.

The comments underscore growing diplomatic tension between Israel and several Western governments as antisemitism rises globally. Israeli leaders have increasingly warned that failure to confront antisemitism decisively creates an environment in which hatred normalizes and violence follows.

Netanyahu concluded by reiterating that governments bear responsibility for the consequences of their messaging, emphasizing that combating antisemitism requires moral clarity, political courage, and zero tolerance for incitement.