Deputy Prime Minister to lead huge delegation to Israel
Julia Gillard will visit Israel next month along with politicians from both major parties, journalists and representatives from the worlds of business and technology.Highlight of the visit will be a forum to be held in Jerusalem on June 25-26 at which the Australians will be joined by their Israeli political counterparts amongst whom it is hoped will be Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is expected that all three Israeli major parties, Labour, Likud and Kadimah will attend.
The visit has been arranged by the Melbourne-based Australia Israel Cultural Exchange headed by Albert Dadon in a bid to strengthen political and cultural relations between the two countries with an eye on also increasing trade.
It has been reported that Australian Palestinian leader Moamar Mashni had been invited but declined.
Political identities joinging the 40-plus delegation will include, Peter Costello, Christopher Pyne and Jewish Labour MP Mark Dreyfus.
