Israeli President Isaac Herzog will begin his visit to Australia in response to the Bondi massacre against a backdrop of nationwide protests and calls for his arrest.
The head of state begins his official visit in Sydney on Monday after an invitation from the Albanese government following the terrorist attack, which targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on December 14.
The Islamic State-inspired father-and-son gunmen killed 15 people and wounded more than 40 others.
Mr Herzog will meet with politicians and Jewish community leaders, some of who say the figurehead’s visit will bring great comfort.
But other groups oppose him setting foot on Australian soil, calling for federal police to investigate the Israeli president for alleged war crimes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, but Mr Herzog is not and is granted customary immunity under international law as a visiting head of state.
The president’s role is largely ceremonial, but he has sparked outrage for being photographed signing an Israeli artillery shell.
Mr Herzog later said the munition was a smokescreen rather than an explosive device, but described the signing as an error.
A United Nations inquiry found his comments after the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 – in which he described Palestinians as an “entire nation out there that is responsible” – to reasonably be interpreted as incitement for genocide.
Israel has repeatedly denied allegations of genocide and Mr Herzog subsequently clarified his remarks, which he said were taken out of context.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said Mr Herzog’s visit would “lift the spirits of a pained community”.
“We hope it will lead to a much-needed recalibration of bilateral relations between two historic allies,” he said.
“President Herzog is a patriot and a person of dignity and compassion and holds an office that is above party politics.”
But Judith Treanor, from Jews against the Occupation ’48, said the visit told the world that “genocide is compatible with Jewish identity”.
“There are Jews who support Israel and Jews who don’t … Herzog must be investigated, (he’s) not welcomed here,” she said.
Protest organisers Palestine Action Group have flagged an urgent NSW Supreme Court challenge on Monday after Premier Chris Minns formally declared the visit a major event.
The declaration granted police extra powers to block movements in the city centre.
“Instead of defending human rights, the NSW government is using emergency-style powers to shield a visiting head of state from public scrutiny and accountability,” spokesman Josh Lees said.
A last-minute court hearing arguing the powers are excessive, unjustified and unlawful is scheduled before Justice Robertson Wright on Monday morning – hours before the rally is due to take place.
Police have warned protesters they will be arrested if they breach public assembly restrictions put in place following the Bondi attack.
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