Call by ex-PMs angers Netanyahu
ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday hit out at two former Australian leaders even as he praised the warm friendship between the two nations.
Mr Netanyahu arrived in Sydney yesterday for a historic four-day visit, the first by a sitting Israeli PM.
Appearing with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at Kirribilli House, he described Australia as a “great friend of our people and our civilisation”.
But he slammed former Labor PMs Bob Hawke and Kevin Rudd’s suggestion Australia should join 137 nations in diplomatic recognition of an independent Palestine.
“I ask both former prime ministers to ask a simple question: What kind of state will it be that they are advocating,” he said. “A state that calls for Israel’s destruction?
“A state whose territory will be used immediately for radical Islam? Israel already gave up Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, and this became a terrorist state.”
Mr Netanyahu also thanked Mr Turnbull for his comments yesterday, in which the PM accused the UN of bias against Israel over a Security Council resolution accusing it of violating international law by its settlement activity.
The Israeli leader, whose relationship with James Packer is reportedly under investigation at home, also shrugged off questions over allegations he had accepted lavish gifts from the billionaire.
“I think nothing will come of it because there is nothing there, except friendship, which is a good thing,” Mr Netanyahu said.
His visit follows his trip to the US last week, during which he met the new US president, Donald Trump.