'Unite against Iran.' Shalom
צילום: ירון ברנר
Minister Shalom meets Australian PM, dozens protest against Israel
Protestors outside Sydney hotel wave signs calling on Australia to sever ties with 'apartheid state'; Israeli minister tells conference world leaders to come together to prevent Iran from obtaining nukes
Dozens of people protested in Sydney Wednesday night outside the hotel in which Minister Silvan Shalom met with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The protesters waved posters emblazoned with anti-Israel slogans which called on Australia to sever ties with the "apartheid state" and for the lifting of the naval blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Shalom, who is heading the delegation to Australia, spoke at a conference held at the hotel. He called world leaders to come together to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, saying the way to achieve this was to impose broad sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The Israeli minister also called on the Palestinians to return to the negotiation table.
PM Rudd spoke of the importance of the relations between Australian and Israel and the need to strengthen them.
Knesset members Avi Dichter (Kadima), Ronit Tirosh (Kadima), Daniel Ben-Simon (Labor) and Nachman Shai (Kadima) are accompanying Shalom in his trip.
