The ties that bind: Israel and Australia

“Australia and Israel enjoy a deep friendship, underpinned by historical and community ties,” said Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who made her first official visit to Israel in early September and held meetings with Israeli politicians at the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop

In spite of the vast distances and multiple time zones between the countries, the closeness of these ties is not surprising. Both Israelis and Australians (Aussies) share a love of hot weather, sandy beaches and a good barbecue, as well as a work hard, play hard approach to life.

While Israeli backpackers regularly enjoy spending time on Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach,
Australian tourists can enjoy 186 miles of golden beaches and a number of great spots for relaxing, swimming and surfing, particularly by Tel Aviv, Haifa and Herzliya, according to local surfing experts.

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A few minutes’ drive from the beaches and downtown Tel Aviv is Yarkon Park, which stretches for hundreds of acres along the tranquil Yarkon River and welcomes approximately 16 million visits annually. Home to one of Israel’s largest water parks, a bird sanctuary and a petting zoo, the park is also popular for the much-loved Aussie pastime, the barbecue.

It is also a major draw for concerts, attracting increasing numbers of Australian singers and bands who choose to make Israel a key destination on their tours. Born in Adelaide, global sensation and singer-songwriter Sia performed in Tel Aviv in August. Australian  band Air Supply will be back in Israel in November and performing to crowds in  Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba. The Aussie indigenous physical theater company Djuki Mala came to Tel Aviv in the summer, serving up an energetic performance fusing hip hop, contemporary and Bollywood dance styles. Australian film-makers also enjoy coming to Israel frequently. The Cinemateques of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa showcased a number of movies at the 12th Australian Film Festival in February.

The spirit of friendship, or ‘mateship,’ is strong in both Israel and Australia. To highlight the relationship, the Australian Embassy in Israel has planned the ‘Ozraeli Gala’, a colorful and light-hearted celebration of friendship on 26 September at the Peres Peace Center in Jaffa. The event brings together Australian singers, Australian comedians, Australian music, and of course Australian food, beverages and decorations.

The ties between the two countries blossoms in many other areas too, such as technology and innovation, for example. In December 2015 the Australian government announced that Tel Aviv would be one of just two destinations chosen to host a start-up high-tech incubator, aimed at boosting its start-up expertise and making Australia a leader in the field of new technologies. This incubator, called the Landing Pad, will provide a base for Australian entrepreneurs, investors, and others coming to Israel to use the office spaces and services to establish connections on the ground. Australian Ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma said: “The decision reflects the importance that Australia ascribes to Tel Aviv as the world’s start-up capital alongside Silicon Valley.”

As the two countries celebrate a relationship as warm as an October evening in Tel Aviv, Benjamin Netanyahu accepted the Australian Foreign Minister’s invitation to make an official visit to Australia in 2017, and, in doing so, he will become the first sitting Israeli Prime Minister to visit in an official capacity.

Let the ties continue to grow! Maybe Netanyahu will even hug a koala bear! Cheers!