Bishop meets with Netanyahu
AUSTRALIA looks set to welcome both of Israel’s top leaders, after the Prime Minister and President both told Julie Bishop that they want to make the trip.
AUSTRALIA looks set to welcome both of Israel’s top leaders, after the Prime Minister and President both told Julie Bishop that they want to make the trip.
Visiting Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, the Foreign Minister said: “I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm our absolute enduring commitment to the State of Israel and our friendship, and invite you to come to Australia.”
She suggested that there is “a little window of opportunity early next year,” and said that “the Australian public would warmly embrace you, welcome you and we would look forward to the first visit of an Israeli prime minister ever to Australia.”
Netanyahu accepted, and used the encounter to describe the friendship that Bishop and Australia extend to Israel as “terrific.”
Shortly before the Bishop-Netanyahu meeting, Bishop had been sitting with Reuven Rivlin who said that he was “so very sorry” not to have kept plans to visit Australia six months ago, when he needed to head to Russia instead.
But he stressed that it was a postponement not a cancellation, and that he still plans to visit the “wonderful state” of Australia.
Rivlin also discussed Israeli anticipation of the centenary of the Battle of Beersheva next year, which is expected to bring a top-level Australian delegation to Israel.
As the triumph of Anzac soldiers over the Ottomans helped to pave the way for the establishment of the Jewish State, Rivlin credited them with helping “the Jewish people return to their homeland.”
Full coverage in this week’s AJN.
NATHAN JEFFAY
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