Sydney: Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Sydney on Monday under unprecedented security arrangements for a state visit that was intended to express solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community after the December 2025 Bondi Beach massacre, where 15 people were killed in an antisemitic terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades. Upon stepping off the plane, Herzog was met by a reinforced police presence and extensive road closures around Sydney’s Central Business District as authorities prepared for large public gatherings and protests.
Herzog’s first official engagement was a wreath-laying and memorial ceremony at Bondi Pavilion, where he laid wreaths and Jerusalem stones in memory of the victims and met with grieving families and survivors. In remarks that drew on both grief and political messaging, the Israeli president condemned the attack as an assault on democratic values and declared the global rise in antisemitism a “global emergency,” urging collective action against hate and violence.
The Australian government, which extended the invitation to Herzog, described the visit as a necessary gesture of friendship and mutual support between the two democracies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed that the president’s presence was meant to console the Jewish community and reaffirm long-standing bilateral ties. The visit also coincides with a federal commitment to a new royal commission into antisemitism, backed by roughly $131 million in funding, reflecting deep anguish in the wake of the Bondi tragedy.
At a press event ahead of the visit, NSW Premier Chris Minns called for calm and respect, noting that while protests were lawful, public safety and separation of opposing gatherings were priorities. Under legislation invoked by the state government, Herzog’s visit has been designated a “major event,” granting police expanded powers to search individuals, set restricted areas and issue fines for non-compliance a move leaders defended as necessary to prevent clashes.
Despite the government’s safety rhetoric, Herzog’s presence quickly became a flashpoint for pro-Palestinian demonstrators and human rights activists across Australia. In Sydney, thousands gathered at Town Hall and other central locations with banners, chants and Palestinian flags, denouncing what they describe as Australia’s uncritical embrace of an Israeli leader they accuse of complicity in mass civilian casualties in Gaza.
Tensions in Sydney escalated when parts of the crowd attempted to march beyond designated areas, prompting police to use pepper spray and effect arrests as demonstrators pushed through lines to contest protest restrictions. Scenes of smoke from small fires, heated arguments and physical altercations were reported in several precincts, underscoring the intensity of feeling on both sides.
Melbourne also saw large rallies, with citizens voicing solidarity with Palestinians and criticizing the Australian government for hosting Herzog at a time when global scrutiny of Israel’s military actions remains high. Protests were also planned in Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and other capitals, reflecting a coordinated national response from activist networks.
In the lead-up to Monday’s protests, the Palestine Action Group mounted an eleventh-hour legal challenge against the NSW government’s decision to designate Herzog’s visit a major event arguing the special powers given to police were draconian and designed to suppress dissent. In court Monday morning, the Supreme Court upheld the government’s position, rejecting the argument that the legislation was inappropriate for a political protest, while noting that peaceful demonstrations in designated areas remained lawful.
Organizers reiterated their commitment to protest regardless, insisting the restrictions were being used to limit free expression. Meanwhile, NSW police warned protestors that non-compliance with directives in restricted zones could lead to fines or arrest, a stance that has drawn criticism from civil liberties advocates.
The visit has also revealed deep fractures within Australian society. Not all Jewish Australians have supported Herzog’s presence; over 1,000 Jewish academics, community leaders and professionals signed a public letter urging Prime Minister Albanese to rescind the invitation, arguing the visit risks conflating Jewish identity with contentious Israeli policies.
Conversely, many in the Jewish community and beyond welcomed Herzog, saying his visit validates the multicultural fabric of Australia and addresses the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents following the Bondi attack. Herzog’s references to shared democratic values and the historic alliance between Australia and Israel were intended to bridge divisions, though they have instead amplified debates about foreign policy, human rights and national identity in a polarized public sphere.
Herzog’s itinerary for this four-day visit includes engagements with federal leaders in Canberra and community events in Melbourne later in the week. Authorities are bracing for continued protests as activists across the country signal a willingness to maintain pressure, even amid restrictions.
The episode underscores Australia’s struggle to balance free expression, public safety and international diplomacy in an era marked by global conflict and intense domestic political scrutiny. As debates around civil liberties and foreign policy continue, the reverberations of Herzog’s visit are likely to extend far beyond the diplomatic tour itself.