BREAKING NEWS

Rivlin trip to Australia postponed, not canceled

Contrary to Israeli and Australian media reports, President Reuven Rivlin has not canceled his planned visit down under, but he has merely postponed it due to developments in the region.
Various quarters in the Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign Ministry, which are both headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, felt that as much as Israel values its long and close friendship with Australia, it was of greater urgency at for Rivlin to travel to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin.
Rivlin’s people as well as Foreign Ministry personnel contacted relevant officials in Australia to apologize and reschedule at times convenient to all concerned.
The president was to have met in March with Governor- General Peter Cosgrove, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and other prominent Australian political figures.