Israeli President’s Visit to Australia Prompts Protests and Arrests
Amid activists’ objections, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had invited President Isaac Herzog to visit to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia on Monday, intended to mourn the 15 victims of a Hanukkah celebration shooting at Bondi Beach, was met with significant protests and clashes between activists and police in Sydney. Demonstrators had strongly opposed the Australian leader’s invitation to President Herzog.
While President Herzog’s role in Israel is primarily ceremonial, his invitation from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ignited anger among various groups. These organizations urged Mr. Albanese to rescind the invitation, citing concerns over Israeli policies during the conflict in Gaza, which, according to Gazan officials, has resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths.
The Jewish Council of Australia, a progressive organization, had previously criticized President Herzog, alleging his involvement in genocide in Gaza. They warned that his visit would ‘fuel the flames of division’ and ‘rightly spark mass protests’ across Australia. Israel has consistently denied committing genocide in Gaza. The conflict began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which claimed approximately 1,200 lives and led to the abduction of around 250 people.
Before President Herzog’s arrival, Prime Minister Albanese publicly defended his decision, stating the invitation was a gesture of support for Australia’s Jewish community during a ‘very difficult time’ following the December Bondi Beach attack. He also acknowledged the public’s right to protest and express their opinions.
Authorities in New South Wales had anticipated the protests, issuing warnings ahead of a planned rally at a town hall regarding restrictions on public assembly within Sydney’s Central Business District.
By late Monday, law enforcement announced the conclusion of a ‘major operation’ in the district. Their statement indicated that ‘thousands of participants’ had gathered at a town hall and then attempted to march, defying both public assembly restrictions and dispersal orders. Police reported ‘a number of scuffles’ and confirmed 27 arrests. Several individuals also received treatment from paramedics after officers deployed pepper spray into the crowds.
The Palestine Action Group Sydney, one of the primary organizations opposing President Herzog’s visit, vehemently condemned the police response in a social media statement. They described the events as a ‘brutal attack’ by the NSW Police against a ‘massive peaceful protest’ and accused officers of ‘unleashing unseen violent repression.’
President Herzog has not publicly commented on the protests. His office released a statement upon his arrival, confirming his intention to meet with both the Jewish community and senior Australian leaders.
From Australia, President Herzog shared on social media: ‘My visit… is one of solidarity, strength, and sincere friendship from the State of Israel and the people of Israel. Together, we must confront the evils of antisemitism, extremism, and terror here in Australia and around the world.’
Later that day, President Herzog spoke to mourners at a memorial for the Bondi Beach attack victims, an event described as Australia’s most severe mass shooting in decades.
He later posted on social media, expressing profound emotion from meeting and speaking with thousands of Sydney’s Jewish community members. He praised their ‘exceptional strength, spirit and faith’ in the wake of the Bondi attack.
The Bondi Beach shooting intensified concerns within the Australian Jewish community about increasing threats. Prior to the attack, many had already voiced that the government wasn’t adequately addressing the surge in antisemitic incidents and vandalism, which had escalated during the Gaza conflict.
The Bondi Beach attack, officially recognized as an act of terrorism, was widely condemned by Australians, prompting the government to enact new gun-control and hate-crime legislation. However, the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to foster deep divisions throughout Australia.
Just last month, the Adelaide Writers’ Week literary festival faced cancellation after numerous writers protested the decision to retract an invitation to Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Palestinian lawyer, academic, writer, and vocal critic of Israel.
The festival board initially justified the withdrawal by stating it would ‘not be culturally sensitive’ to host her soon after the Bondi Beach shooting. This decision triggered a significant outcry from international literary figures, many of whom withdrew from the event, ultimately forcing the festival’s cancellation.
