Nationwide Protests Expected During Israeli President's Australian Visit
Australian cities are preparing for significant demonstrations when Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrives for a five-day official visit next month. The controversial visit, scheduled to begin on Sunday, February 8, comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and follows heightened tensions after last year's Bondi Beach terror attack.
Protest Organisers Vow to Flood Streets
Students for Palestine National Convenor Jasmine Duff has announced plans for mass protests across multiple Australian locations. "We will flood the streets in cities and towns across the country," Duff told media outlets, "carrying photos of the children his government has murdered, photos of the schools and hospitals his government has bombed, and photos of the journalists his government has deliberately targeted and killed."
The protest movement describes Herzog as "Israel's war criminal president" and criticises Australian political leaders for welcoming him with open arms. Organisers plan to highlight what they describe as systematic violence against Palestinian civilians during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Legal Challenges and Genocide Allegations
The backlash follows serious international allegations against the Israeli president. A United Nations Human Rights Council inquiry into Israel's conduct in Gaza found that Herzog had "incited the commission of genocide" through public comments following the October 7 terror attacks.
Herzog has defended his statements, including his controversial remark that "an entire nation is responsible" for the Hamas attack, arguing they were taken out of context. Despite this defence, the allegations have prompted formal legal action within Australia.
The Australian Centre for International Justice, alongside Australian and Palestinian lawyers, has submitted a formal request to the Australian Federal Police. They are urging an investigation into Herzog once he arrives on Australian soil.
"At a time when the Federal Government is criminalising hate speech, a person who is alleged to have incited hate to commit the ultimate crime, genocide, must not be allowed to enter Australian territory without facing accountability for these serious allegations," said ACIJ executive director Rawan Arraf. "There is a compelling basis for the AFP to commence an investigation."
Early Protests and Security Preparations
Initial demonstrations have already occurred, with one stationary protest taking place outside Sydney's Town Hall earlier this month. This protest happened during a temporary ban on marches that was implemented after the Bondi Beach massacre and remained in effect until January 20.
Security agencies are now preparing for the expected wave of protests in February. Media inquiries to the Australian Federal Police regarding their preparations for the anticipated demonstrations have been acknowledged but detailed responses are pending.
Government Support and Jewish Community Division
Despite mounting calls to cancel the invitation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed the visit through an official statement. "President Herzog will visit Jewish communities across Australia to express solidarity and offer strength to the community in the aftermath of the attack," the statement explained.
When questioned about requests from multiple groups to revoke the invitation, the Prime Minister's office referred to previous comments Albanese made on Christmas Eve. The Prime Minister noted that he and Herzog have known each other for an extended period and described the visit as an opportunity for the Israeli president to express condolences to Australian victims and the nation as a whole.
The Zionist Federation of Australia, which also extended a direct invitation to Herzog, welcomes the visit. They view it as demonstrating "at the highest national level, that Australia stands with its Jewish citizens."
Non-Zionist Jewish Voices Express Outrage
Not all Australian Jewish voices support the visit. The Jewish Council of Australia has expressed strong opposition, describing the invitation as "completely inappropriate and offensive" and predicting it will rightly spark mass protests.
"Inviting a foreign head of state who is implicated in an ongoing genocide as a representative of the Jewish community is deeply offensive and risks entrenching the dangerous and antisemitic conflation between Jewish identity and the actions of the Israeli state," said JCA executive officer Sarah Schwartz.
Schwartz emphasised that this approach does not enhance Jewish safety in Australia but rather achieves the opposite effect. She highlighted that growing numbers of Jews in Australia and globally oppose Israeli government actions and reject attempts to speak on their behalf.
"Conflating Judaism with the policies of a state accused of genocide and crimes against humanity erases our voice and fuels antisemitism rather than combating it," Schwartz added, noting that many Jewish Australians feel ignored or silenced in this political discourse.
Official Meetings and Diplomatic Agenda
Beyond meetings with grieving families affected by the Bondi attack, Herzog's itinerary includes significant diplomatic engagements. "A central part of the visit will be dedicated to official meetings with senior Australian leaders, including the Governor General and the Prime Minister of Australia, as well as with leaders across the political spectrum," confirmed the Prime Minister's office statement.
This high-level diplomatic component ensures the visit will receive substantial official attention despite the controversy surrounding it. The combination of mourning visits, community engagements, and political meetings creates a complex backdrop for the anticipated nationwide protests.
