Sydney is preparing for a tense day on Monday as pro‑Palestine demonstrators plan a major rally protesting the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Authorities have declared the visit a major event, triggering extraordinary police powers and the deployment of around 3,000 officers across Australia’s largest city.
Protesters reject police request to move rally
NSW Police urged organisers to gather at a central Sydney park for safety reasons, but protest leaders say they will rally at the city’s historic Town Hall, insisting they will not be moved.
Police have been granted rarely used powers for the duration of Herzog’s visit including the authority to separate crowds, restrict access to certain areas, order people to leave, and search vehicles.
Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said police hoped not to use those powers, emphasising that the priority was public safety. “We’ve been liaising very closely with the protest organizers,” he said. “We’ll be there in significant numbers to make sure the community is safe.”
Herzog visiting after Bondi Beach shooting
Herzog is in Australia at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, following the deadly December 14 shooting at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration. He is expected to meet survivors and families of the 15 victims.
Jewish community leaders say the visit will provide comfort. Alex Ryvchin, Co‑Chief Executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said Herzog’s presence “will lift the spirits of a pained community.”
Pro-Palestine groups launch legal challenge
Herzog’s visit has sparked protests nationwide. The Palestine Action Group has filed a legal challenge in a Sydney court against restrictions placed on demonstrations.
In a statement, the group said a national day of protest would demand Herzog’s arrest, citing a UN Commission of Inquiry finding that accused him of inciting genocide in Gaza.
Jewish Australian critics also oppose the visit
In a rare move, the Jewish Council of Australia, which has been critical of the Israeli government, released an open letter signed by more than 1,000 Jewish Australian academics and community leaders urging Albanese to withdraw Herzog’s invitation.
The letter underscores deep divisions within Australia’s Jewish community over Israel’s leadership and the ongoing war in Gaza.
As Sydney braces for mass demonstrations and unprecedented security, Herzog’s visit is shaping up to be one of the most politically charged diplomatic trips in recent years.
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