Scott Morrison has welcomed an Israeli court ruling paving the way for the extradition of accused sex predator Malka Leifer, in a phone call with Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin.
Mr Rivlin called the Prime Minister on Wednesday night, after the Jerusalem District Court ruled Ms Leifer was fit to travel.
Mr Morrison noted that the decision could be appealed but said it was a positive development in the extradition process, which started under the Abbott government in 2014. He told Mr Rivlin the news was a great relief for the victims and their families, who had carried an enormous burden.
Mr Morrison told Sky News earlier he had consistently raised the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior leaders in the country. “And so that news is very welcome … I want to commend all of those who’ve been campaigning strongly on this here in Australia and in Israel,” he said.
“This is a very good day for them, but the ultimate day is still a little bit away. And hopefully that will be soon.”
Read the article by Ben Packham in The Australian.