Rivlin visit off
A planned visit to Australia by Israel’s president Reuven Rivlin has been called off due to a confirmed visit to Russia.
President Reuven Rivlin Photo: Henry Benjamin
A spokesman for the president issued the following statement: “President Reuven Rivlin will visit Russia during March, and meet with President Vladimir Putin.
Due to regional developments which have occurred in the Middle East, and the need for a meeting between the two Presidents in Moscow, President Rivlin has been forced to postpone his planned visit to Australia which will be rearranged for a later date.
The decision was taken in cooperation with the relevant officials in the Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister Office. The President will speak in the next few hours with the Australian Governor-General, and Prime Minister and express his intention to set an alternative date for his visit as soon as possible.”
President Rivlin was scheduled to visit Australia in mid-March. The Jewish National Fund had circulated an email advising community members that an event was planned for March 20.
President of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Robert Goot told J-Wire: ““We regret that President Reuven Rivlin has deferred his State visit to Australia, and share the disappointment of the Australian officials and many others who were looking forward to his visit.”
If and when President Rivlin visits Australia, will diplomatic protocol permit the President to point out how Ms Bishop’s Iran policy could be exploited by the Iranatollah regime to Australia’s detriment, as well as Israel’s, nay, the entire civilised world’s?
What happened to Netanyahu’s cancelled visit to Australia from June 2014, justifiable at the time because of the escalating Gaza conflict. But now?
Australia is of much lesser importance than Russia in Geopolitics.
A small nation playing virtually no role in Middle East conflicts.
So, Israels Foreign Ministry announces the cancellation and advises that The President will speak in the next few hours with Australia’s Governor General and Prime Minister.
I would have thought that any student of Foreign Affairs 101 would know that the appropriate step would have been to speak to the GG and PM first, explain the situation and apologise and only then make the public announcement.
Israel does it again!