Jewish organisations are urging the Government to rescind its invitation to Israel President Isaac Herzog as it risks provoking mass protests and stoking antisemitism.
In the wake of the Bondi massacre, Prime Minister Albanese publicly and formally invited President Herzog to visit Australia. A letter signed by 11 groups, nine of them Jewish, has been written to the Governor-General and Prime Minister, urging them to rescind the invitation.
The letter, penned by Jewish Voices of Inner Sydney, cites Herzog’s comments urging collective punishment of the people of Gaza and his complicity with Israeli military aggression towards civilians. They say that by publicly hosting this head of state, the government risks provoking mass protests, which would be attended by significant numbers of Jewish people, and
exacerbate antisemitism by implicitly associating Jewish people with alleged war crimes.
Jennifer Weinstein, Jewish Advocates for Understanding Antisemitism, said:
“Herzog has publicly signed his name on artillery shells used to blow apart children in Gaza. He doesn’t represent all Jewish people in Australia. Facilitating this visit does nothing to support the healing of Jewish communities in Australia, following the horrific massacre in Bondi.”
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Kim Wingerei is a businessman turned writer and commentator. He is passionate about free speech, human rights, democracy and the politics of change. Originally from Norway, Kim has lived in Australia for 30 years. Author of ‘Why Democracy is Broken – A Blueprint for Change’.