Netanyahu increases criticism of Australian PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday stepped up his criticism of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over his government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state. Mr Albanese’s political record has been damaged forever, Mr Netanyahu said. Diplomatic ties between Australia and Israel have soured since Mr Albanese’s centre-left Labour government last week announced it would conditionally recognise Palestinian statehood, after similar moves by France, Britain and Canada. The decision prompted Mr Netanyahu to attack Mr Albanese earlier this week and he repeated his condemnation in an interview to be broadcast on Sky News Australia.