Australian politicians have been assured Israeli president Reuven Rivlin will personally work to speed up the extradition of an alleged paedophile to Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison put the case directly to Mr Rivlin when they met in Canberra on Wednesday in what was described as a very warm encounter. The pair discussed Australia's strong commitment to seeing justice in the case of Malka Leifer, a former Melbourne school principal who is facing 74 charges of rape and child abuse here. Liberal MP Dave Sharma and Labor's Josh Burns also discussed the case with Mr Rivlin, just over a fortnight after they raised it in parliament. Mr Burns said he was keen to highlight the matter on behalf of his constituents Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper, referring to alleged victims of Leifer. "I was pleased that President Rivlin advised me that if hearings scheduled this week do not see this matter progress towards Malka Leifer being extradited to Australia, he will personally meet with the chief justice of Israel to discuss how this matter can be expedited," Mr Burns told AAP in a statement. "This matter has dragged on far too long. These victims deserve justice and I will continue to fight until Malka Leifer is back in Australia facing trial." Mr Sharma said Mr Rivlin had committed to emphasising to all arms of the Israeli state the priority Australia has placed on the extradition. It's understood the Leifer case has been raised by almost every person the president has met during his three-day visit to Australia. Mr Rivlin and Mr Morrison also talked about their nations' responses to the coronavirus outbreak, in particular the effective measures Australia has put in place to stem its spread. To date, Israel has only recorded two cases of the virus but there are fears about an outbreak in nearby Iran. The leaders also touched on defence and security cooperation, deepening science and technology links, and the long friendship and enduring people-to-people ties between Australia and Israel. Australian Associated Press
Israel President Reuven Rivlin will try to speed up the extradition of Malka Leifer to Australia.
Australian politicians have been assured Israeli president Reuven Rivlin will personally work to speed up the extradition of an alleged paedophile to Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison put the case directly to Mr Rivlin when they met in Canberra on Wednesday in what was described as a very warm encounter.
The pair discussed Australia's strong commitment to seeing justice in the case of Malka Leifer, a former Melbourne school principal who is facing 74 charges of rape and child abuse here.
Liberal MP Dave Sharma and Labor's Josh Burns also discussed the case with Mr Rivlin, just over a fortnight after they raised it in parliament.
Mr Burns said he was keen to highlight the matter on behalf of his constituents Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper, referring to alleged victims of Leifer.
"I was pleased that President Rivlin advised me that if hearings scheduled this week do not see this matter progress towards Malka Leifer being extradited to Australia, he will personally meet with the chief justice of Israel to discuss how this matter can be expedited," Mr Burns told AAP in a statement.
"This matter has dragged on far too long. These victims deserve justice and I will continue to fight until Malka Leifer is back in Australia facing trial."
Mr Sharma said Mr Rivlin had committed to emphasising to all arms of the Israeli state the priority Australia has placed on the extradition.
It's understood the Leifer case has been raised by almost every person the president has met during his three-day visit to Australia.
Mr Rivlin and Mr Morrison also talked about their nations' responses to the coronavirus outbreak, in particular the effective measures Australia has put in place to stem its spread.
To date, Israel has only recorded two cases of the virus but there are fears about an outbreak in nearby Iran.
The leaders also touched on defence and security cooperation, deepening science and technology links, and the long friendship and enduring people-to-people ties between Australia and Israel.
