Pro-Palestine protest planned in Sydney over Israeli President Herzog’s visit

Pro-Palestine demonstrators plan to rally in Sydney on Monday to protest the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, as authorities declare his trip a major event and deploy thousands of police to manage expected crowds.

Police have urged protesters to gather at a central Sydney park for public safety reasons, but organisers say they intend to assemble at the city’s historic Town Hall instead.

During Herzog’s visit, police have been authorised to use rarely invoked powers, including separating and moving crowds, restricting access to certain areas, directing people to leave and searching vehicles.

“We’re hoping we won’t have to use any of these powers, because we’ve been liaising very closely with the protest organisers,” New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna told Nine News on Monday. “Our priority is keeping the entire community safe.”

About 3,000 police personnel will be deployed across Sydney, Australia’s largest city.

Herzog is visiting Australia this week following an invitation from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, extended in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach. He is expected to meet survivors and families of the 15 people killed in the December 14 attack during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration.

In a statement, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said Herzog’s visit “will lift the spirits of a pained community.”

The visit has drawn strong opposition from pro-Palestine groups, with protests planned in major cities across Australia. The Palestine Action Group has also launched a legal challenge in a Sydney court against restrictions placed on the expected demonstrations.

“A national day of protest will be held today, calling for the arrest and investigation of Isaac Herzog,” the group said, citing findings by a UN Commission of Inquiry that it says accuse the Israeli president of incitement related to the war in Gaza.

Separately, the Jewish Council of Australia — a prominent critic of the Israeli government — released an open letter on Monday signed by more than 1,000 Jewish Australian academics and community leaders urging Albanese to withdraw Herzog’s invitation.