Australian Jewish leaders are rejecting allegations that the “hardline” pro-Israel lobby in Melbourne wielded “extraordinary influence” on Mideast policy during Julia Gillard’s tenure as prime minister.
Australia’s former prime minister, Kevin Rudd, who expelled an Israeli Mossad agent from Canberra in 2010, was re-elected to help the government remain in power.
A longstanding Jewish lawmaker was promoted to junior minister in a cabinet reshuffle after a botched attempt to overthrow the Australian prime minister.
