Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom in Sydney

At the beginning of December 2009 Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom led a delegation to Australia which included senior governing and opposition Israeli legislators as well as the President of Ben Gurion University, leading journalists and others, with the aim of strengthening the ties that bind the two countries. The group visited Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, receiving a very warm welcome from their hosts, despite clusters of anti-Israeli protestors at several locations.

In Sydney the delegation participated in the second Australia Israel Leadership Forum, which culminated in a gala gathering of who's who in Australian politics and the Jewish community.

Conference founder Albert Dadon, the chair of the Australia Israel Cultural Exchange, said that the forum aims to address issues of strategic mutual relevance to both countries.

Much support and friendship for Israel was expressed both by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who stressed the importance of the ties between the countries, as well as by Opposition leaders, in welcoming what is believed to be the largest official delegation of Israelis ever to visit Australia. "We feel at home here," said Silvan Shalom in appreciation, and promised that Australian support would never be taken for granted.

With the successful conclusion of the forum both sides are looking into what can be done to raise the bar and take relations between the two countries to the next level.