It’s a Relationship We Need to Rebuild: Opposition Meets With Israeli Prime Minister

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese border village of Chihine on July 28, 2024. KAWNAT HAJU/AFP via Getty Images

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he wants Australia to rebuild its relationship with Israel following a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dutton became the first Australian major party leader to meet with Netanyahu in Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians.

During an hour-long meeting with Netanyahu and his security team, Dutton discussed security threats, the terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah, and the release of hostages.

The Liberal-National Coalition leader told Sky News later he was grateful for the access and time with the Israeli prime minister.

“I think it’s a relationship that we need to rebuild, that we need to restore, and that we need to respect,” Dutton said.

“We discussed a broad range of issues—obviously in relation to the current security context, what’s happening with the Houthis, what’s happening with Hamas and Hezbollah, the threats here to Israel otherwise, and obviously a broad-ranging discussion on areas of mutual interest otherwise.”

Dutton also discussed the broader threat of Middle East tensions to the West and suggested Australia needs to examine its position on global matters.

“I think in the West, we need to realise that our civilisation as we know it, our democracy, our rule of law, our adherence to international law—all of that is under threat. It is a time for Australia to reassess where we are in the world and make sure that we align ourselves more significantly with our partners,” he said.

He highlighted that relationships with the United States, the United Kingdom, and India are all vital, but “so too is the relationship with Israel.”

Dutton also visited the site of the Nova Music Festival in Israel, one target of Hamas militants during the Oct. 7 attack.

He noted that 115 people were still in captivity, and that authorities do not know “how many are alive, how many are dead” and what “brutality they’ve experienced at the hands of those terrorists.”

The Coalition has taken a pro-Israel stance since the Hamas attack, while the Labor government has walked a fine balance between support for Palestine and Israel—a result of divergent views between the party’s left and right factions.

Albanese Hopes Dutton Remains Safe, Pushes for De-Escalation

Responding to Mr. Dutton’s trip to Israel, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was a matter for the opposition leader.

“I’m aware that he is there, and I certainly hope, of course, that he remains safe, and I’m sure that there is security ensuring that that occurs,” he told reporters in Sydney.

Following his recent statement with the Canadian and New Zealand prime ministers, Mr. Albanese again raised concerns about an escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

“We want to see a de-escalation. We want to see a ceasefire. We want to see the hostages released, and we want to see a plan for peace and security in the Middle East, where both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security with prosperity. That’s the objective that my government has,” he said.

Fears of escalation have again emerged after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, was allegedly assassinated by Israel during a missile strike in Tehran.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is seeking revenge and has ordered a direct strike on Israel, according to The Times of Israel.

Meanwhile, Albanese phoned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in April to express “anger and concern” when Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom died in Gaza. He has not visited Israel since Oct. 7, 2023.

Liberal Senator Dave Sharma said Israel, whilst they haven’t taken responsibility for this attack, made clear that all those responsible for Oct. 7 were legitimate military targets.

“Ismail Haniyeh was high up on that list,” he said on the Today Show.

In January, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has travelled to Israel, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and “occupied Palestinian territories” to meet with officials and hostage families.