The opposition leader embarked on a three-day visit to Israel, where he will meet senior members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is heading to Israel where he will meet senior members of the Israeli government. Mr Dutton will also meet with community members affected by the October 7 attacks during his three-day visit to Israel. “The ties between Australia and Israel are deep and enduring,” Mr Dutton said in a statement. “Today, Australia and Israel enjoy a strong bilateral relationship spanning trade, agriculture, technology, security and more.”
Dutton’s visit will run from Monday to Thursday, August 1, and will include meetings with hostages affected by the Hamas attacks on October 7, and their families.
Shortly after landing on Monday evening, Sky News’ Shari Markson reported that Dutton would meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, and then meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
His itinerary also includes visits to kibbutzim that came under Hamas fire, as well as the site of the Nova music festival in southern Israel, where more than 350 civilian attendees were killed in a surprise attack by Hamas militants.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton arrived in Israel on Monday evening (AEST). Photo: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
In a statement announcing his visit, Dutton said the relationship between Australia and Israel was “deep and enduring.”
“Today, Australia and Israel enjoy strong bilateral relations spanning trade, agriculture, technology, security and more,” he said.
Labour leader Cameron Milner praised Dutton’s visit on Sky News, saying it was “what the prime minister (Anthony Albanese) should and should not do”.
“He’s actually doing things for Australia on the international stage, not going on a Contiki tour on Tutu One and drinking champagne at the White House. He’s doing real international relations,” said Milner, who was previously Shorten’s chief of staff.
The Australian Jewish Association welcomed Mr Dutton’s visit, issuing a statement thanking the Opposition Leader for his visit.
“With Anthony Albanese so far disgracefully refusing to visit after October 7, despite his many overseas trips, it is good to see someone in Australia take over as Prime Minister,” they wrote.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton visits Israel.
With Anthony Albanese so far shamefully refusing to visit after October 7, despite his many trips abroad, it is good to see someone in Australia take over as prime minister.
Thank you Peter! pic.twitter.com/wtbJRm8qEk
– Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) July 29, 2024
In January, Foreign Minister Penny Wong became the highest-ranking Australian official to visit Israel and the Palestinian-occupied West Bank.
She was criticised for not visiting the main sites of the October 7 massacre.
Mr Dutton’s visit also comes after a joint call by Mr Albanese, Canadian leader Justin Trudeau and New Zealand leader Christopher Luxon for Israel to halt its ground and air campaign in Gaza.
The attacks are believed to have killed more than 39,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and displaced some 2.3 million residents into shelters.
Messrs. Albanese, Luxon and Trudeau urged the Israeli government to “listen to the concerns of the international community,” saying the humanitarian suffering in Gaza was “catastrophic.”
While they condemned the October 7 attacks and ongoing acts of terrorism by Hamas, they said that “protecting civilians is of paramount importance” and expressed support for a two-state solution.
