Australia turns down former Israeli minister’s visa application

The Australian government has denied the visa application by former Israeli Minister of Internal Affairs Ayelet Shaked, The Australian reports.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs sent a letter to Shaked, who had requested a visa to attend a conference in the capital, Canberra.

As noted, Shaked’s visa application was rejected on the grounds that her presence could “undermine” Australian society and “incite conflict” within the community. In an interview with the newspaper, the former minister called Australia’s decision “shameful.”

The conference is organized in Canberra by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) and the Strategic Analysis Australia think tank. Ayelet Shaked served as Israeli Minister of Justice in 2015-2019 and as Minister of Internal Affairs in 2021-2022.