[Israel]: Message for Australia

[Zak]

State of Israel
Security Classification: TOP SECRET​

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Dear Minister Kevin Rudd,

As the newly elected Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs here in the State of Israel, I have decided that my first point of call should be to contact the Commonwealth of Australia and extend an invitation to invite you to visit Israel where we will be able to build upon the strong relationship which our two countries have together. We owe Australia a great debt of gratitude after the assistance provided by the Royal Australian Armed Forces in Eilat therefore I find this a suitable time to sit down and discuss relations.

I look forward to hearing from your office shortly.

Regards,
Tzipi Livni
Deputy Prime Minister of Israel
Minister of Foreign Affairs
State of Israel

Owen

 

[Owen]

​

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: PROTECTED (Encrypted)​

5 June 2000​

Dear Ms. Livni, Indeed, the Australian Defence Force played a key role in the defence of Israel against the Turkish and Saudi Arabian aggressors. I will accept your invitation to visit Israel, I wish to tour Eilat as apart of this visit and see the rebuilding process. I will be departing shortly. Yours sincerely, Kevin Rudd, MP.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

Zak

With that the Foreign Minister would prepare his things and head for RAAF Base Fairbairn in Canberra in a chaffeured COMCAR Holden Caprice. He would board a Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 737BBJ and would head to Jerusalem with refuelling stops in Singapore and Dubai.

 

[Zak]

Tel Aviv, Israel​

TOP SECRET
Upon official confirmation that an Australian delegation was visiting the State of Israel, elements from Israel Police, Israel Border Police, Shin Bet and the Israel Defence Force would be mobilised in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with checkpoints set up to allow the swift transition of the provided motorcade from the arrival point at the VIP Private Terminal at Ben Gurion Airport to the destination point at the Foreign Ministry Building in Jerusalem. The orders given to the security agencies were to stop, search and detain anyone they felt was a risk to the corresponding security arrangements set in place. Although people were allowed to move around freely, Jerusalem was like a military fortress with elements of the Israel Defence Force on deployment under Operation Guardian of the Walls.

A private secretary had been deployed to the airport to greet Kevin Rudd upon his arrival in Israel and would greet him with a warm smile and would guide his delegation to the awaiting motorcade which would depart towards the Foreign Ministry Building upon them entering the motorcade.

Owen

 

[Owen]

The 737BBJ would touch down at Ben Gurion Airport and would taxi to the VIP terminal. The Foreign Minister would disembark with his team and greet the private secretary before heading into the motorcade. Upon arriving at the Foreign Ministry Building, the Foreign Minister would greet his Israeli counterpart, Tzipi Livni.

"Ms. Livni, Shalom. It's great to be here in Jerusalem, the undivided and eternal capital of Israel."

Zak

 

[Zak]

After getting settled into her new role as Minister of Foreign Affairs, she was informed of the impending arrival of the Australian delegation as she made her way to the front entrance just as the motorcade pulled up at the Foreign Ministry Building as she offered a smile as Minister Rudd's car stopped in front of her as a security agent allowed him to exit the vehicle.

"Minister Rudd, it's a pleasure to meet you in person. Please come to my office, can I get you anything to eat or drink at all?"

She ushered him to follow her through numerous corridors and hallways before arriving at her office as she entered and shut the door behind the Australian delegation and offered them seats as she took hers at her desk with numerous folders scattered across the table which had been prepared for the meeting.

Owen

 

[Owen]

"Just a glass of water should be fine thank you" He would smirk to Ms. Livni.

He would take his seat.

"We've been quite pleased to see the resilience of the Israeli people against such adversities in the region, particularly those citizens of Eilat. I have spoken to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who came back from Eilat and they had many positive things to say about the residents of that city and how grateful they were to the presence we had in that part of Israel."

Zak

 

[Zak]

A staffer would enter the room with a jug of water and would pour two glasses and would rest them on the desk.

"Absolutely Minister, the resilience shown by the people of Israel during the Middle Eastern Crisis is always nice to see. The amount of support shown by the people of Israel to those affected in Eilat has been much appreciated and I can speak on behalf of Israel that the support given by the Australian Defence Force to those in the surrounding area has been phenomenal to say the least and I would like to say thanks to your wonderful nation Minister Rudd."

Owen

 

[Owen]

"You're very welcome.....

So what is it that you want to discuss?"

Zak