Rivlin headed to Oz
ISRAELI President Reuven Rivlin will pay a state visit to Australia next month, in what is the first visit Down Under by an Israeli head of state since Moshe Katsav in March 2005.
UPDATE: Rivlin cancels Australia visit
ISRAELI President Reuven Rivlin will pay a state visit to Australia next month, in what is the first visit Down Under by an Israeli head of state since Moshe Katsav in March 2005.
The AJN understands Rivlin will spend five days in Australia in mid-March, and will visit Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.
During the trip he will reportedly meet with Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other major political figures. In Sydney he will attend a Shabbat service and a communal event on Sunday, March 20.
Welcoming Rivlin’s forthcoming visit, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told The AJN this week, “Visits by senior government and state figures from Israel present valuable opportunities to exchange views on issues of shared interest and to enhance bilateral engagement.
“President Rivlin’s visit will reaffirm the warm and longstanding friendship between Australia and Israel. It will be an occasion to reflect on the deep connection between the Australian and Israeli communities, and on the important contribution that the Jewish community makes to Australia.”
Australia’s ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma said he is “very excited” about Rivlin’s visit.
“This will be only the third time an Israeli president has visited Australia, and the highest level visit to Australia from Israel in over a decade,” Sharma told The AJN.
“President Rivlin is a great friend of Australia and appreciates the historic and deep friendship between our two countries. He made an official visit to Australia as speaker of the Knesset, and as President he attended Australia’s Anzac Day ceremony held in Jerusalem last year as the guest of honour.”
The sentiment was echoed by Zionist Federation of Australia president Danny Lamm, who said that Rivlin’s visit presents “tremendous opportunities to foster the connections between Israel and Australia”.
“We look forward to President Rivlin being able to not only fulfil the key missions of the state visit, but hopefully having the chance to meet with and engage with the Jewish community, which, as we know, is so strongly supportive of Israel,” he said.
Recalling Rivlin’s last visit to Australia when he was the speaker of the Knesset, which was as an honoured guest of the Zionist Council of Victoria at its annual general meeting, Lamm added: “He was warmly received by the community, who will no doubt be even more excited to welcome him in his capacity as President of the State of Israel.”
EVAN ZLATKIS
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