Bibi arrives in Australia
BENJAMIN Netanyahu and his wife Sara touched down in Sydney on Wednesday morning, ahead of a historic four-day state visit.
BENJAMIN Netanyahu and his wife Sara touched down in Sydney on Wednesday morning, ahead of a historic four-day state visit.
Speaking to media shortly after his arrival, Netanyahu said he is proud to be the first sitting Israeli Prime Minister to visit Australia, adding that Australia and Israel have been “extraordinary friends” for 100 years.
“We admire Australia, we embrace Australia, this visit will enable us to bring our countries even closer,” Netanyahu said.
In a statement on Monday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said, “I am looking forward, with Lucy, to welcoming the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his wife, Mrs Sara Netanyahu, to Australia.
“This is a historic visit – the first by an Israeli Prime Minister – and it demonstrates the strength of our relationship and its importance to both countries.”
He added, “The Prime Minister’s visit is an opportunity to not only reflect on our shared past, but to invigorate and further deepen the relationship for the benefit of our people. We will discuss expanding cooperation in cyber-security, innovation and science, agritech, energy and resources, and the environment.”
In Sydney, Netanyahu will meet Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Jewish community leaders.
He is also set to pay a visit to Jewish day school students.
Speaking at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said, “I am leaving on an important visit to Singapore and Australia. I think that this is the first visit by a[n Israeli] prime minister to these important countries.
“We will strengthen security, economic and other ties with these countries.
“In Australia I will, together with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, hold a meeting with businesspeople from both countries in order to increase trade between Israel and Australia.
“What we are doing to strengthen Israel’s standing in the world – and this was apparent during my visit in Washington, as it was during my previous visits to the Islamic world and now to Australia and other major powers in Asia, and it is clear that there is also an economic aspect here – is to open new markets.
“This is one of the things that contribute to strengthening Israel’s economy.”
Full coverage in this week’s AJN.
AJN STAFF
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