Late last month, the Australian government revoked a travel visa for outspoken Jewish influencer Sammy Yahood over anti-Islam comments on social media. Critics say this is just the latest example of pro-Israel voting by authorities.
In an Instagram postYahood claimed the Australian government had ‘called the UAE’ to ensure he could not board a plane to Melbourne.
He said he booked his trip via the United Arab Emirates three days before the Bondi Beach terror attack, which killed 15 people who had gathered for a beachside Hannukah celebration. After the tragedy, he said he hoped his visit would give the Jewish community “some hope for the future.”
ISIS, IRAN ESCALATES GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST JEWS, SAYS ISRAEL SPY CHIEF
Rabbi Yossi Friedman addresses people who gather at a floral memorial at the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, following Sunday’s shooting in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said of his visa cancellation that “spreading hate is not a good reason to come to Australia,” The Guardian newspaper reported. On social media, controversial influencer Yahood has called for a ban on Islam, saying: “It’s time to stop being tolerant of those who are not tolerant of us.”
Yemini claimed that “only one Islamist extremist has been stopped under this government. In the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, that imbalance tells you all you need to know about their priorities.”
According to the Herald Sun, the Australian government blocked the visa of Lebanese pastor Hussain Makke in March 2025. Makke planned to speak in Melbourne and Sydney during Ramadan. His visa was revoked after he attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, whom he described as the “greatest freedom fighter.”
INTELLIGENCE WARNED AUSTRALIA OF IRANIAN TERROR ACTIVITY MONTHS BEFORE BONDI ATTACK, OFFICIALS SAY
A member of the Jewish community recovers an item from the Adass Israel Synagogue on December 6, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. An arson attack at Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue forced congregants to flee as flames engulfed the building early Friday morning. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the incident as an anti-Semitic act and stressed that such violence at a place of worship is unacceptable in Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images) (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
Three other Israelis were also canceled by the Australian government after October 7, 2023. In June last year, the visa of prominent pro-Israel activist Hillel Fuld was canceled. Fuld’s brother was killed in a terrorist attack in Jerusalem in 2018.
The times of Israel reported that in a letter from the Interior Ministry to Fuld, his visit would “incite certain segments of the community, namely the Muslim population,” the report said.
Two months later, the government canceled a visa for right-wing Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, who had planned speaking engagements in Melbourne and Sydney. Rothman is a member of the Israeli governing coalition.
Sing on a house and say, ‘Kill Israel. (Executive Council of Australian Jewry)
In 2024, Burke canceled a visa for former Israeli lawmaker Ayelet Shaked, citing comments about Palestinians that he said were “demeaning,” according to ABC News.
FORMER HAMAS HOSTAGE WARNED AUSTRALIAN LEADERS OF THE DANGERS OF ANTISEMITISM MONTHS BEFORE BONDI BEACH ATTACK
The atmosphere in Australia remains tense after the Bondi Beach massacre.
Australia’s former prime minister, Scott Morrison, recently expressed condemnation when he suggested that Muslim leaders should be licensed to preach and have their teaching translated into English. Morrison suggested Muslims in Australia must take “responsibility and accountability” for radicalization, The Australian reported.
The safety vest of an anti-Israel protester during a march against the Jewish state at the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia. August 2025. (Ayush Kumar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The site also claimed that one of the gunmen had ties to Sydney pastor Wissam Haddad, some of whose lectures had to be removed from social media by a federal judge after they were found to contain “racist and anti-Semitic” content, according to ABC News.
The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) produced a 15-minute video that they say contains multiple instances of incitement to violence against Jews, recorded during protests in Sydney and at a variety of mosques within 30 to 40 minutes of Bondi Beach.
Albanese’s press secretary did not respond to questions about whether Albanese had made any effort to respond to the behavior seen in the video.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Australian National Imams’ Council called Morrison’s comments “reckless, irresponsible and grossly ill-informed” and said it was unacceptable “to suggest that an entire faith community should be held responsible for the actions of two (alleged) criminal offenders, who law enforcement authorities have confirmed acted alone.”
Yemini said the response to Morrison was “part of a broader attempt to end any honest conversation about what is driving the wave of anti-Semitism and ideological violence in Australia.” He said Australians were told for years that “it was reasonable to distinguish between Islam and radical Islam. Now we are being told to ignore the fact that attackers themselves cite religion as their motivation.”
