Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison emphasized the importance of the relationships between Australia, Israel and the UK, saying “Together, we are striving to uphold the liberal world view, of openness, of economic and civil and political freedoms,” during a roundtable organized during the annual Leadership Dialogue.
Morrison, who last year awarded the Jerusalem Prize by the World Zionist Organization, has pledged to always defend Israel in the United Nations.
The event, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Leadership Dialogue, took place online due to COVID-19, with speakers and panellists joining from Israel, the UK and Australia, as well as the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert cautioned that a peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not imminent, while Australia’s former Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned against Iran’s “monstrous” nuclear potential during a roundtable at the first day of the annual Leadership Dialogue.
At the roundtable hosted by Albert Dadon, founder and chairman of the Leadership Dialogue, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert cautioned that a peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not imminent, while Australia’s former Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned against Iran’s “monstrous” nuclear potential during a roundtable at the first day of the annual Leadership Dialogue.
Olmert said: “I think that Saudi Arabia is in favour of developments [with Israel]but cannot take steps unless there is progress on the Palestinian issue. Saudi Arabia is a potential partner for peace with Israel.” Reflecting on the Abraham Accords between Israel, UAE and Bahrain, he commented “If anyone thinks that this agreement releases us from any responsibilities towards the Palestinians, it is a mistake. It is in our interest to separate from the Palestinians.”
Abbott took aim at Iran, saying “There is no doubt that the Iranian regime is a monstrosity. If I were the Israeli leader, I would be repeating former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin’s words that never again will there be a Holocaust. The worry is that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon then there could be.”