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Israeli Knesset Member Barred from Entering Australia
(ABC News-Australia) Maani Truu - Israeli Knesset member Simcha Rothman's visa to Australia was cancelled on Monday just prior to his scheduled visit. Rothman was originally scheduled to appear at "many Australian synagogues, schools and other Jewish organizations," according to the Australian Jewish Association. The group said it would now hold "one large communal event" where he would speak via video call. "The show will go on." The group's chief executive, Robert Gregory, said the purpose of Rothman's visit was to "show solidarity with Australia's Jewish community," which was facing a "wave of antisemitism." He was to meet with victims of antisemitism and visit Jewish institutions that have been targeted. "The visit was not in any way connected to current events in the Middle East," he said. "This is a viciously antisemitic move from a government that is obsessed with targeting the Jewish community and Israel." The letter revoking Rothman's visa said he had the potential to use the events he would be participating in to "promote his controversial views and ideologies, which may lead to fostering division in the community.... His presence in Australia would or might be a risk to the good order of the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community, namely the Islamic population." During an interview with the ABC, Rothman said he was blocked from entering Australia only because he said: "Hamas is bad and Israel is good."