Netanyahu, Turnbull stress close collaboration on innovation, tech

Meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull emphasized the friendship between their respective countries.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Wednesday with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the sidelines of the United Nations’ (UN) General Assembly in New York.

Netanyahu lauded Turnbull as “a great friend of Israel.”

“Australia and Israel have a solid friendship and I’m looking forward to coming to visit Australia. And I’m looking forward to seeing you in Israel soon.”

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop visited Israel earlier this month and invited Netanyahu to visit Australia, the first-ever visit by an Israeli prime minister to the country.

Turnbull stressed the importance of the two countries’ cooperation on technology and development. Australia launched its first innovation center in Israel.

“Really, the start-up nation has been great inspiration to our whole innovation agenda. So our innovation launch pad is there and we will see a lot more collaboration between Australian and Israeli innovators and financiers. It’s a very important step. As you know, that’s the way you have to stay ahead in the 21st century – you have to innovate, to take on the challenges of technology and bring the imagination to bear on technology. That’s how you secure prosperity.”

Netanyahu agreed, saying that the “future belongs to those who innovate.”

“We both have innovative nations and we can do a lot more together than we can separately.”

While in Israel, Bishop visited Tel Aviv to inspect several high-tech innovation hubs, including “Landing Pad,” which is helping Australian entrepreneurs tap into Israel’s science and research industry.

Israel’s Century-Old Debt to Australia

Netanyahu also quipped that Israel “owes” Australia for its troops’ efforts to liberate the Land of Israel from the Ottoman Empire during World War I. “That was a great event. I think it was the last cavalry rush in history.”

“The last cavalry charge – that’s right, in Be’er Sheba,” said Turnbull.

“You have to come and see it,” replied Netanyahu.

Turnbull expressed his willingness to visit in Israel.

The Turnbull administration is considered friendly to Israel.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News