Turnbull to visit Israel

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull exclusively told The AJN this week that he will travel to Israel later this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheva.

In a wide-ranging interview on Tuesday, prior to the arrival of Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, Turnbull said that he is looking forward to Bibi’s visit and his own trip to the Jewish State in October.

He also discussed a landmark deal between Qantas and El Al.

“It’s a historic moment,” he said, referring to the fact that Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli PM to visit Australia. “It’s going to be a very good opportunity to meet Bibi here. He’s here for a few days so he will engage with many Australian leaders, the wider community and the mishpocha of Wentworth.”

Regarding his trip to Israel, Turnbull said he hasn’t discussed who would accompany him, but stressed Australia “will have a solid parliamentary delegation” at the commemorations.

Major events are being planned to mark the centenary of the Australian Lighthorsemen’s victory at the Battle of Beersheva, a major turning point in the campaign to defeat the Ottoman Empire, paving the way for the Balfour Declaration and ultimately the establishment of the State of Israel.

When asked if he would be joined on the trip by the six Jewish members of federal Parliament – Josh Frydenberg, Julian Leeser, Mark Dreyfus, Michael Danby, Michael Freelander and Stirling Griff – Turnbull said, “I would think those odds are promising.”

A month ahead of the first single ticket Cathay Pacific flights from Australia to Israel, Turnbull also revealed that Australians may soon be able to travel to Israel via the national carriers of both countries.

“A bilateral agreement will establish an air-services relationship between Australia and Israel for the first time. That gives entitlements to airlines in both countries.

“There will be a statement of intent to negotiate a codeshare between Qantas and El Al.”

A second bilateral agreement will be signed regarding technological innovation, and research and development to provide a framework for scientists, engineers and businesses to create jobs and industries of the future.

Turnbull said there are three reasons Israeli innovation is the envy of the world. “Firstly, necessity. Israel is a country that has no natural resources, other than the brilliance and the enterprise of its people.

“Secondly, a lot of Israelis attribute this to the universal experience of military service. In particular the way that so many technology start-ups come out of work that has started with the military.”

The third explanation, which Turnbull describes as unconventional, is that Israelis are famous for not being deferential.

“You’ve got to be prepared to say, ‘the way we did things last week may not work next week,’” he said. “In my experience Israelis have always been prepared to challenge.

“There is a culture of being prepared to look at things in a new way and that is critical.”

Turnbull said the bilateral relationship is beneficial for both countries, and noted that Australia is the world’s most successful multicultural society. “Israelis, in my experience, feel at home in Australia. They find it a comfortable place to visit and work in, and we have enormous access to the fastest growing region in the world, in Asia.

“Our two-way trade is not that big in terms of dollars, but the trade in ideas and collaboration is getting stronger all the time.”

When asked about Donald Trump’s comments last week regarding peace between Israel and the Palestinians when the US President said, “I’m looking at a two-state, one-state, and I like the one that both parties like”, Turnbull reaffirmed Australia’s long-held position.

“We support a two-state solution,” he said. “It obviously has to be negotiated between the parties and we encourage them to do everything they can to resume negotiations and achieve that reconciliation and agreement for two states, so that Israel can live securely and there will be a Palestinian state as agreed between the Palestinians and Israelis.”

He said Australia is a “very good friend of Israel” and as a result “we don’t support one-sided resolutions”, but are “prepared to give frank advice and have forthright conversations directly and privately. Our position [on the Middle East] is respected. People know where we stand and it’s important to be consistent.”

Elaborating on his comments to The AJN, Turnbull subsequently berated those who “view Israel exclusively through the lens of its conflict with the Palestinians” and urge the government to “chastise Israel – and it alone – for the continuing failure of the peace process”.

Noting the disproportionate number of UN resolutions condemning Israel as opposed to Syria, he stressed, “My government will not support one-sided resolutions criticising Israel … and we deplore the boycott campaigns designed to delegitimise the Jewish State.”

For full coverage, see this week’s AJN.

JOSHUA LEVI