Peter Dutton meets Benjamin Netanyahu in historic sit-down during Israel visit

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his flying visit to the Jewish state, it can be revealed.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his flying visit to the Jewish state, it can be revealed.

News of the sit down, which is understood to have lasted an hour, comes amid reports that Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed at his home in the Iranian capital of Tehran, in what is thought to be a targeted strike by Israel.

Also present at the meeting between Mr Dutton and Mr Netanyahu were Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.

Mr Hanegbi and Mr Dermer are understood to have met with US Secretary of state Antony Blinken during Mr Netanuahu’s visit to Washington last week.

A source familiar with the meeting said that the Australian Opposition Leader met with “the A team”.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has visited the Yad Vashem holocaust museum in Israel with museum guide Liz Elsby and Yad Vashem chair Dani Dayan.

During his visit to Israel, Mr Dutton also met with families of hostages and survivors of Hamas’s October 7 attacks.

“I want to thank the families of hostages and survivors for sharing their harrowing accounts from October 7,” Dutton said after that meeting.

Peter Dutton meeting with the families of survivors and hostages taken during the October 7 attacks.

“They have shared their grief and experiences so the world will remember Hamas’ barbaric attack … but beneath their stories is something truly remarkable, a spirit of strength, of solidarity and of survival,” he said.

During the trip Dutton also expressed support for “Australia’s and Israel’s close relationship and shared trust.”

Dutton’s visit was organised by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, which also facilitated meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana.

“This is a time when Israel needs the support of its friends more than ever, so we are very grateful that Mr Dutton has taken the time and shown the courage, commitment and moral clarity to visit Israel to show his solidarity,” said AIJAC executive director Colin Rubinstein.

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Originally published as Peter Dutton meets Benjamin Netanyahu in historic sit-down during Israel visit