Netanyahu accepts Australia visit offer

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepts an offer to visit Australia during a meeting with the country’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, currently vising Israel.

“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. And we’re thinking there’s a little window of opportunity early next year maybe? And 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,” Bishop told Netanyahu, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Netanyahu accepted the invitation telling Bishop: “I just want to greet you and say that your friendship is terrific – Australia, the government’s and yours personally. And we appreciate our friends.”

Earlier, Rivlin – who visited Australia in 2011 as Knesset Speaker – met with Bishop at his residence, welcoming her to Israel and Jerusalem. She also met with Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.