Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday brushed off accusations from his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu that the Australian leader is a “weak politician who had betrayed Israel” by recognizing a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu's personal attack on Albanese has further strained relations between the two countries. Ties soured after Australia decided last week to conditionally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

Netanyahu on Tuesday called Australia’s Anthony Albanese a “weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews,” and blamed the French leader’s calls for Palestinian statehood for fueling antisemitism.