SYDNEY, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Sydney on Wednesday for a series of meetings and events to enhance the bilateral relationship between Israel and Australia, and engage in talks with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Both leaders appeared at a number of events over the course of the day, which culminated in an event at a local Sydney synagogue which saw 2,000 people attend. Two former Australian prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott also attended the event.
Turnbull reiterated Australia's firm commitment to the state of Israel, and spoke out against the recent United Nations resolution against the Israeli state.
At the event, Netanyahu touched on what he sees as a growing wave of anti-semitism around the world, and spoke of the fight required to "battle against those who seek to demonise Jews," giving reference to U.S. President Donald Trump, who he visited last week.
"It's very important that President Trump took a strong stand against anti-semitism," Netanyahu said.
During a speech at the luncheon in his honor, Netanyahu highlighted the rapid technological advances his country has been making, and encouraged Australia, and the world, to partner with Israel in their push towards a high tech future.
"There is a revolution taking place in the world today, and it is the intersection of big data and connectivity, and artificial intelligence," Netanyahu said.
"Those who can be at that nexus and create new ideas in that triangle, have the future in their hands," he said.
"You need Israeli technology."
A number of protests against Israel were planned for Thursday, with estimates ranging from the hundreds to the thousands likely to be in attendance in Sydney.
Politicians and academics who are in support of a Palestinian state will speak at the event on Thursday, which will be begin with a march from Town Hall in Sydney on Thursday night, with prominent Greens MP David Shoebridge set to speak at the event, organized by the Palestinian Action Group.
"This rally is a response to the official Australian visit of Benjamin Netanyahu as the leader of the Israeli government, which has consistently flouted international law in relation to Palestinian rights to land justice and an end to the occupation," organizers said.
