Rivlin promises to take up the Leifer case
Israel’s President Reven Rivlin has visited Canberra meeting Governor-General David Hurley, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, leader of the opposition Anthony Albanese and many MPs.
With the Coalition…Dave Sharma, Vince Connolly, Tim Wilson, Julian Lesser, Senator David Van, President Rivlin, Scott Morrison, Senator Jane Hume, Senator Andrew Bragg, Senator James Paterson and Josh Frydenberg
President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin began the last day of his official visit to Australia, with a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Parliament House in Canberra.
In their meeting, the president expressed his appreciation for Australia’s friendship and commitment to the State of Israel and to the Australian Jewish community. He said that relations with Australia are among the cornerstones of Israeli diplomacy and that the connection between the peoples of Australia and Israel are wide and close.
The president also thanked the prime minister for Australia’s support in the international arena, particularly for its clear and determined position regarding the decision of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). “It is important to that other countries also express their opposition to this dangerous move to politicize the ICC,” the president said to the prime minister. “Our army, the IDF, is our children and our grandchildren and we are proud of them and of the ability of our army to act as necessary to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.”
“I am delighted to welcome you here,” said the Australian prime minister, adding “This is a great honour, not only because of your current position but because of your work in the Knesset over the years and your contribution in many other fields. We have many things to discuss today, and I am looking forward to our meeting. Australia is happy to stand with Israel in the international arena and the diplomatic relations between the countries are no less important than the relations between the peoples, which are excellent and will remain so.”
President Rivlin and Scott Morrison
During their meeting, the president also noted the dangers of growing Iranian influence in our region and stressed that we take the threats made by the Iranian leadership from every platform very seriously, and that we have no intention of standing by in the face of such threats.
On the question of Malka Leifer, which was raised by the prime minister, the president clarified that he is in contact with the authorities dealing with the case in Israel and gave the prime minister the document he had received from the Israeli authorities before departing on his official visit to Australia, detailing the situation. The president noted that we are a country with the rule of law and that he will continue to monitor the case when he returns to Israel. He added that he understands the feelings of the Australian authorities and of the Jewish community well, and that he will convey them to the relevant authorities in Israel. “We are responsible for handling this matter in an organized and efficient way, Mr. Prime Minister,” said the president, adding “the State of Israel will not allow anyone to use it to evade the law.”
Josh Burns, Senator Penny Wong, Anthony Albanese, President Rivlin and Richard Marles
President Reuven Rivlin also met with Labor Leader Anthony Albanese MP; Deputy Leader Richard Marles MP; Shadow Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong; and Federal Member for Macnamara, Josh Burns MP.
Josh Burns raised the matter of Malka Leifer’s extradition with President Rivlin.
Josh Burns told J-Wire: “I was pleased to be able to meet Israel’s President, His Excellency Reuven Rivlin, this morning with Labor’s Leader Anthony Albanese, Deputy Leader Richard Marles; and Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
I raised the issue of the extradition of Malka Leifer with President Rivlin on behalf of my constituents, particularly Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper.
I was pleased that President Rivlin advised me that if hearings scheduled this week do not see this matter progress towards Malka Leifer being extradited to Australia, he will personally meet with the Chief Justice of Israel to discuss how this matter can be expedited.
This matter has dragged on far too long. These victims deserve justice and I will continue to fight until Malka Leifer is back in Australia facing trial.”
The prime minister made it clear that Australia is at the front line of preparedness regarding the Corona virus and that the country had taken a stronger line than those laid out by the World Health Organization from the earliest stages of the outbreak. In this regard, the prime minister stressed that there is no fear of infection with the virus for those leaving Australia, noting that there has not been a single case of infection from people leaving Australia. The prime minister told the president, “Australia is fully confident about the steps we have taken. At a time when the Corona virus is spreading across the world, there is nowhere safer to be than Australia.”
The president was then received by the Governor-General of Australia, David Hurley in an official welcome ceremony at Government House in Canberra. The two national anthems were played and there was the traditional 21-gun salute, after which the president reviewed a guard of honor. The two then held a private meeting, at the end of which the Governor-General hosted an official lunch in the president’s honour.
During their meeting, the president thanked Governor-General Hurley for the warm reception and noted his appreciation for the Governor-General and his wife coming to the International Leaders’ Forum at Beit HaNasi in Jerusalem last month. “Your visit reflects the commitment of Australia, and your personal commitment, to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and combatting antisemitism, fascism and racism, wherever they appear,” the president said.
He continued, “We deeply appreciate that Australia continues to stand with Israel at the UN against the UN’s gross anti-Israel bias. These bonds of friendship found expression over the past months in the wave of support from ordinary Israelis as we watched your heroic firefighters battle the bushfires. They find expression in our growing ties in a broad range of areas from sustainable development to water management to agriculture and defence. I believe there is a great potential to expand our cooperation.”
At the end of the lunch, the Governor-General took the president for a drive around the nature reserve within the grounds of Yarralumla, with its many kangaroos and other unique wildlife. The Governor-General drove the open-topped jeep himself and told the president how it is to live within this special natural environment.
Following this, the president laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in memory of the unknown soldier, and from there departed for Sydney.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Governor-General David Hurley, Scott Morrison and President Reuven Rivlin
A very great number of words were seemingly exchanged today’s about Leifer’s (non) extradition. It is a relief that it appeared on the agenda at all. However, the controlling power of Health MinisterYakov Litzman and his apparent relationship to Leifer cannot be disregarded.
(No I have not said that here before)
will he deliver?