Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation to make the first official visit to Australia by a sitting Israeli prime minister.
Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, extended the invitation on a two-day visit to Israel in which she met Netanyahu and the president, Reuven Rivlin.
At a photo opportunity at their meeting, Bishop said: “We’re thinking there’s a little window of opportunity early next year maybe, and the Australian public would warmly embrace you, welcome you.”
Netanyahu accepted and described Australia’s friendship as “terrific”.
According to reports, Bishop raised the case of Mohammad El Halabi, the zonal manager of the Gaza branch of World Vision arrested over allegations he used his position to divert millions of dollars of humanitarian funds to Hamas and its terrorist and military activities.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade suspended funding of World Vision programs in Palestine after the charges were laid by Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet.
Tim Costello, chief executive of World Vision Australia, said he was “very relieved” the matter had been raised. He called for Halabi to be tried in an open court.
Bishop’s itinerary included laying a wreath at the Holocaust museum Yad Vashem, and attending an innovation hub in Tel Aviv.
Bishop is also due to meet with the Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah and the economy minister Abeer Odeh.
