Australia’s treasurer and proud Jew Josh Frydenberg has ripped Malaysian leader Mahathir “Mahitler” Mohamad for being a vile antisemite, in the wake of the latter’s threats against Australia if the embassy is moved to Jerusalem.
One of Australia’s top leaders blasted Mahathir Mohamad for criticizing a proposal to shift the country’s Israel embassy to Jerusalem, citing the Malaysian leader’s record of comments disparaging Jews.
Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who is Jewish, on Thursday dismissed Mahathir’s warning that moving the embassy from Tel Aviv would heighten the risk of terrorism. He said Australia would make its own decisions based on national interest.
“The Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir has form,” Frydenberg told reporters in Melbourne. “He has called Jews hook-nosed people. He has questioned the number of people that have been killed in the Holocaust. He banned Schindler’s List as a movie being shown, even though it showed the amazing story of a righteous gentile who saved many people from persecution.”
Calls to Mahathir’s office in Kuala Lumpur weren’t immediately answered.
Australia’s proposal to follow the U.S. in moving its embassy to Jerusalem has sparked concern throughout the Muslim world. A planned free-trade agreement with Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, is now on hold until a final decision is made, the Australian Financial Review reported this week.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who met Mahathir during regional meetings in Singapore this week, defended Frydenberg on Friday. The treasurer had been “filling in the history” on Mahathir’s “record on various issues over time,” Morrison said.
“Australia decides foreign policy,” the prime minister said. “I am not going to have our policy dictated by those outside the country.”
Josh also blamed the lack of a peace process on the palestinians.
The deputy Liberal leader and Jewish MP told Sky News yesterday that the peace process was irrevocably stalled: “I can tell you right now that the peace process is frozen and as long as Hamas are in control of Gaza — Hamas is a listed terrorist organisation — then you’re not going to get a deal between the parties.”
In the meantime, please vote ‘No’ in the poll Did Scott Morrison make a mistake in proposing moving Australia’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? posted at the above link.
Update: Now with video!
.