President Rivlin calls Scott Morrison on the Leifer affair
Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin has spoken with Prime Minister Scott Morrison following the court decision that Malka Leifer is fit to stand trial.
Scott Morrison greets President Rivlin in Canberra earlier this year Photo: Koby Gideon/GPO
Their conversation followed the president’s visit to Australia this February when the request for Leifer’s extradition to Australia was a central issue. In his meetings with the prime minister and with Governor-General David Hurley, as well as in his conversations with the heads of the Australian Jewish community, the president noted that Israel is a country of law and order and that he would continue to monitor the issue when he returned as he did.
During today’s conversation, the president reiterated: “The State of Israel will not allow anyone to use its institutions to evade justice.” He added that the Israeli courts had proved that yesterday.
The president informed Prime Minister Morrison that the extradition hearing is scheduled for July 20th, and that there will be a right of appeal to the Supreme Court after the ruling. If and when the courts finally approve Leifer’s extradition, the matter will be brought to the Minister of Justice to sign the order.
The Australian prime minister thanked the president for his call and noted that it reflects the strong and warm relations between the countries, and even more so between the peoples. He added that the decision had been met with a real sense of relief in Australia, and particularly for the victims and their families who had carried such an enormous burden and the Jewish community.
