SYDNEY: Thousands of people rallied across Australia on Monday to protest the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who is on a multi-city trip intended to express solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community following last year’s deadly Bondi Beach shooting.
Demonstrations were held in major cities including Sydney and Melbourne, with pro-Palestinian groups organising nationwide protests to coincide with Herzog’s arrival.
Protesters accused the Israeli leader of complicity in the war in Gaza and criticised the Australian government for extending the invitation, according to the Reuters.
Herzog’s visit follows an invitation from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after a December 14 shooting at a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed.
The Israeli president has said the trip is focused on strengthening ties between Australia and Israel and standing with the Jewish community in the wake of the attack.
In Sydney, thousands gathered in the central business district, listening to speeches and chanting pro-Palestinian slogans. Police maintained a strong presence, with helicopters overhead and mounted officers patrolling the area.
“The Bondi massacre was terrible, but from our Australian leadership there’s been no acknowledgement of the Palestinian people and the Gazans,” said Jackson Elliott, a 30-year-old protester in Sydney.
“Herzog has avoided questions about the occupation and says this visit is about bilateral relations, but many see him as complicit.” Authorities said around 3,000 police personnel would be deployed across Sydney during Herzog’s stay.
New South Wales Police were granted special powers for the visit, including the authority to restrict movement, separate crowds, and search vehicles.
Earlier on Monday, Herzog began his visit at Bondi Beach, laying a wreath at a memorial for the victims of the shooting and meeting survivors and families of those killed.
“This was an attack on all Australians,” Herzog said. “It struck at the values our democracies cherish — the sanctity of human life, freedom of religion, tolerance, dignity and respect.”
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry welcomed the visit, with co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin saying it would “lift the spirits of a pained community.”
However, opposition to the visit has also come from within Australia’s Jewish community. The Jewish Council of Australia released an open letter signed by more than 1,000 Jewish academics and community leaders urging Albanese to withdraw the invitation.
In Sydney, the Palestine Action Group, which organised the main protest, failed in a legal challenge against restrictions imposed on demonstrations during the visit.
“We’re hoping we won’t have to use any of these powers,” New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna told Nine News. “Our priority is keeping the entire community safe, and we’ve been working closely with protest organisers.”
Protests were also reported in Melbourne, where demonstrators gathered at Flinders Street Station under heavy police monitoring, reflecting the depth and breadth of public response to Herzog’s visit across Australia.
