Pro-Palestinian protests set in Sydney over ‘Israel’ president visit

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Palestine

Pro-Palestinian groups plan demonstrations in Sydney against the visit of ‘Israel’ President Isaac Herzog.
Australian authorities deploy 3,000 police officers amid security concerns; calls emerge to cancel the visit.

Pro-Palestinian activists plan to gather in Sydney on Monday to protest the visit of ‘Israel’ President Isaac Herzog, amid heavy security deployment and public calls from academics and Jewish community leaders to cancel the trip.

Heightened security

Australian authorities have deployed around three thousand police across the city to secure what they describe as an “important event.” Police have been granted rare powers, including vehicle searches, dispersing crowds, restricting access to specific areas, and ordering people to leave designated zones.

Officers urged demonstrators to assemble in a central public park for safety reasons, but organizers insisted on protesting in front of the historic City Hall building.

Peter McKenna, assistant commissioner of New South Wales Police, said authorities hope not to use these powers, emphasizing that the aim is “to ensure community safety.”

Calls for arrest and legal action

The Palestinian Action Network called for a national day of protest demanding Herzog’s arrest, citing a UN commission that accused him of incitement to genocide in Gaza. The group also filed a lawsuit in a Sydney court against restrictions on the planned protests.

Separately, the Australian Jewish Council issued an open letter signed by more than a thousand academics and prominent figures urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to rescind Herzog’s invitation.

Visit follows deadly shooting

Herzog’s visit comes after the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in December during Hanukkah celebrations, which left fifteen people dead. Upon visiting the shooting site, Herzog said Jews “will overcome this evil” and laid a wreath at the Bondi Pavilion, affirming solidarity with victims and the broader community.

He described the visit as a gesture to “express support and strengthen” Australia’s Jewish community.

Strained relations

Tensions between Australia and ‘Israel’ have escalated since August 2025, when ‘Israel’ canceled visas for Australian diplomats in occupied Palestinian territories following Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state.

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the Australian government for what he called “leniency toward rising antisemitism”, claiming it contributed to attacks on Jews in Sydney.

The visit underscores ongoing tensions, with pro-Palestinian groups and human rights advocates warning that the president’s presence may inflame divisions amid a sensitive security environment.