Israeli leader claims Australian prime minister’s legacy ‘tarnished’ by decision to recognise a Palestinian state.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed accusations from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the Australian leader a "weak politician" for recognizing a Palestinian state.

Australia and Israel have taken diplomatic efforts against each other as tensions between the two nations over the war in Gaza grow.

Australia and Israel, once staunch allies, have seen an erosion of their relations over the course of the war in the Gaza Strip.

Israel's prime minister has accused his Australian counterpart of having "betrayed Israel" and "abandoned" Australia's Jewish community, after days of growing strain between the two countries. Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that history would remember Anthony Albanese "for what he is: a weak politician".

While Israel's prime minister has criticised Australia's decision on Palestinian statehood — even calling Anthony Albanese a "weak" leader — experts say this kind of treatment is far from unusual.

A diplomatic row between Israel and Paris has broken out after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused French President Emmanuel Macron of fuelling “the anti-Semitic fire” in France by planning to recognise Palestinian statehood.

Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state came after the government sensed a major shift in the domestic mood over the war in Gaza, and showed that Canberra was unafraid of upsetting Israel,

Penny Wong joined several other foreign ministers urgently calling on the Israeli government to retract its plan to build 3,400 homes in the West Bank.

Israel is planning to cut water supplies to northern Gaza while repairing pipelines to the south in preparation for forcing Palestinians out of Gaza City as part of a broader plan to occupy the enclave.

The decision comes amid escalating concern about the dire situation in Gaza as Israel wages war against the Hamas militant group.

Former foreign minister Alexander Downer says Australia’s falling out with Israel is “truly tragic”. Mr Downer told Sky News host Chris Kenny that Australia was one of the “key players” in helping to bring the state of Israel into existence. “It is truly a tragedy that Australia is not a robust supporter of a great liberal democracy like Israel.