Sydney welcomed Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday, but the four-day Australian tour is already dividing opinions. Triggered by the deadly Bondi Beach shooting last December – a terrorist assault killing 16 at a Jewish festival, linked to Islamic State radicals – Herzog’s visit seeks to rally and reassure Jewish Australians.
Hosted by the Governor-General and Prime Minister, Herzog will connect deeply with communities through events and leader summits. In a statement, he vowed to traverse the country, fostering ‘unity and fortitude’ for those scarred by the violence.
Opposition mounts swiftly. Fueled by Israel’s Palestinian policies, protesters – including a coalition of over 1,000 Australian Jews via open letter – decry the trip. Planned actions target Sydney’s evening rally, plus Canberra and Melbourne stops, amplifying voices of dissent.
Authorities respond with a fortress-like shield: over 3,000 police in New South Wales, half a thousand dedicated to protest oversight. The Bondi tragedy exposed raw antisemitic threats, transforming a joyous Hanukkah into mourning and galvanizing this high-profile response.
This visit spotlights Australia’s tightrope walk between allyship, free speech, and multicultural tensions. Herzog’s engagements could either bridge divides or widen them, as the nation reflects on security, identity, and international flashpoints.