Can I welcome you very much, Mr. President, and can I thank you for the comfort and solidarity provided last night, particularly to the families who lost loved ones, the 15 innocent Australians who've lost their lives on December 14. But importantly, as well, you've provided comfort to the Jewish Australian community who are grieving this loss as a result of the antisemitic terrorist attack that occurred on December 14. It's also been an opportunity for us to engage on issues, and I look forward to further discussion about the Middle East. We in Australia want to see peace in the Middle East. We want to see Israelis and Palestinians living side by side, peace and security as we go forward.
ISAAC HERZOG, PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL: Thank you, Prime Minister. This visit has been very emotional. You know, when one Jew is hurt anywhere around the world, we in Israel ache and our heart misses a beat. That is why it was so important to visit the community and express heartfelt condolences and strengthen the community. It is also an opportunity to bring the relations between our nations on a new beginning and a better future. I think the relations between us do not depend only on the issue of Israel and the Palestinians and the conflict, but has a much broader base and we should together make sure that it's uplifted to new directions. And I will conclude by wishing President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who are meeting today at the White House to the discuss a very important international and regional and Israeli matter, which means the Iranian-American negotiations, to wish them success in bringing peace and undermining that empire of evil emanating from Tehran. And also discussing the next phase in Gaza, which is important to all of us, which I hope will bring a better future for all of us.
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thanks, Mr. President. I stood in this very courtyard and announced the expulsion of the Iranian Ambassador due to the direct evidence that we had of the involvement in the Revolutionary Guard in atrocities that occurred in our nation, Australia, the first time we have expelled an ambassador since the Second World War. We needed to take that action because the Iranian regime have also now, of course, been in recent times oppressing their own people. And can I conclude also, Mr. President, to say publicly as well, to thank Mrs. Herzog. I saw firsthand the comfort that she gave people last night of the Chabad community there in Bondi. And her presence here has also been very important.
