Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touted his warm relationship with President Joe Biden and addressed concerns about Israeli-Diaspora relations in a private Zoom call with top leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Thursday.
Netanyahu told the 115 participants representing the group’s 53 member organizations that Israel must be welcoming to all Jews, regardless of their backgrounds, according to a call attendee.
During the off-the-record session, the prime minister also took questions from the group’s top leadership about the U.S.-Israel relationship, the Abraham Accords and Israeli innovation with regards to COVID-19, the person who was on the call said.
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Malka Leifer (left) and Yaacov Litzman. Allegations the deputy health minister delayed extradition proceedings raised the profile of the case in Israel. Composite: Getty/AP
When the accused child sex offender Malka Leifer was extradited from Israel to face a Melbourne court this week it was the result of a years-long campaign spearheaded by three of the former principal’s accusers.
The battle galvanised both sides of Australian politics and the country’s Jewish community. It also tested Australia’s relationship with Israel.
Australian politicians raised the matter with Israel at the highest levels. Malcolm Turnbull, when he was prime minister, pressed his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, in person over the repeated delays in Leifer’s extradition.