Israel’s President Isaac Herzog came to Australia on an official visit, Feb. 9-12. His visit was preceded by highly vocal opposition, including from some Jews, and, during the visit, large protests that accused him of incitement to genocide.
Herzog’s first act upon arrival was to visit the site of the Bondi Beach terror attack last Dec. 15 on Chanukah.
Herzog met with families of the victims and survivors of the attack. President Herzog laid a wreath on behalf of the State of Israel in memory of the victims of the attack.
Herzog told Australia’s Jews: “Friends, this is why we are here in Sydney. Why we had to come. We had to be here with you! Hug you, strengthen you and tell you: Am Yisrael Chai!”
Following the memorial service, President Herzog joined Albanese for dinner at his private residence.
Herzog said:“Prime Minister Albanese, we have known each other a long time. I thank you for being here, and for the reception your government has extended to me.”
Herzog spoke at Moriah College in Sydney: “I know that the protesters who are cursing us and saying the biggest lies against our nation do not want to hear this, but I believe that the silent majority of Australians definitely want to hear this and move our relations back on track.”
Herzog addressed anti-Semitism in Australia:
“There has been a huge wave of anti-Semitism that we haven’t seen before, and historically, we never expected to happen in Australia.
“My recommendation to all of us collectively is to stand up, look them in the eye. Don’t be afraid. We are not going to budge. On the contrary, we are proud of our Jewish identity and our Zionist identity. We are proud of Israel, our nation-state, and we insist on moving forward together.
“Somehow, the October 7th massacre emboldened closeted anti-Semites here in Australia and around the world.
“I know the tragedy of Bondi is not an isolated event. I know also that it follows two agonizing years for this community. Your Jewish identities became targets in Australia, just as you watched a massacre unfold in Israel.”
Herzog said at Bondi Beach: “Just now, I laid two stones here at Bondi Beach that I brought with me from the Holy City of Jerusalem, from the Land of Israel.
“In Jewish tradition, we place stones on graves to represent the endurance of memory, the weight of loss and the unbreakable bond between the living and those we have lost.
“These stones from Jerusalem, the eternal city, the eternal capital of Israel, will remain here at Bondi for eternity, in sacred memory of the victims, and as a reminder that the bonds between good people of all faiths and nations will continue to hold strong in the face of terror, violence and hatred, and that we shall overcome this evil together!
“This very beach, beloved by the Australian people, and symbolic of all that’s great about this beautiful nation, became the scene of the deadliest terror attack in Australia’s history. These vile terrorists specifically and deliberately targeted our dear sisters and brothers, Australian Jews.
“Yet, this was also an attack on all Australians. They attacked the values that our democracies treasure: the sanctity of human life, freedom of religion, tolerance, dignity and respect.
“This is how terror operates all around the world, and, sadly, Israel has faced this deadly threat of terror for many decades.
“In the face of this evil, we saw the very best of humanity. Suddenly, here on Bondi, surfboards became trenches and stretchers, as extraordinary ordinary people ran into the danger and saved innocent lives.
“And in the aftermath of the attack, the people of Australia stood together in grief and solidarity with the Jewish community.
“The world’s only Jewish state, the State of Israel, and the nation of Israel stood together with the Australian people.
“Anti-Semitism here in Australia is not a Jewish problem — it is an Australian problem and a global problem.
“I welcome the positive steps already taken by the Australian government to tackle anti-Semitism since the Bondi attack. Leaders across all sectors of society must speak out clearly and consistently against anti-Semitism, because silence in the face of hatred is complicity.
“Let me end by praying for the souls of the victims and the speedy recovery of the wounded. May G-d give strength to his nation. May G-d bless his nation with peace.”
Grace Gilson of JTA adds:
Following Herzog’s invitation by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, some Australian Labor party members and anti-Israel groups called for the invitation to be rescinded.
Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti called on Albanese to rescind the invitation or arrest Herzog on arrival for inciting “genocide.”
Australia’s minister of foreign affairs, Penny Wong, defended the visit in an interview with ABC radio, telling the station that it was the wishes of the Jewish community following the December terror attack on a Chanukah celebration in Sydney that killed 15.
“We have the Australian Jewish community who have been targeted in an overtly anti-Semitic terrorist attack. We have had 15 Australians die, we have families mourning, and this was a request from the Jewish community for President Herzog to visit,” said Wong, herself a critic of Israel.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald published Friday, Herzog called Sidoti’s statements “another lie and another distortion of the facts,” adding that he was visiting the country to “visit my sisters and brothers of the Jewish community to console and pay our respects to the grieving families and to the community.”
Herzog was to visit the country from Feb. 8-12. He met with Albanese as well as the survivors and the families of the victims of the shooting.
Groups petitioned for Herzog’s arrest. On Feb. 5, Human Rights Watch cited a UN Commission of Inquiry report accusing Herzog and other Israeli leaders of “direct and public incitement to commit genocide” in calling on Albanese to consider deploying local laws to prosecute him.
“While showing appropriate concern for the Jewish community, the Australian government should not shy away from denouncing and pushing for an end to the Israeli government’s longstanding serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” the human rights NGO said.
The progressive Jewish Council of Australia lodged a legal complaint last week calling for Herzog to be “arrested or barred from entering Australia.”
The complaint, which was jointly filed with the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Australian National Imams Council, alleges that Herzog “incited genocide and aided and abetted war crimes, rendering him unfit to enter the country under Australian law.”
Widespread protests against Herzog’s visit were planned throughout Australia by the Palestine Action Group, including in Sydney, where New South Wales Police announced restrictions on protests, citing the behavior of some protesters who “continue to incite violence and cause fear and harm.”
New South Wales Police deployed thousands of officers to ensure the mandate is upheld. They have also warned that they will arrest protesters who breach the restrictions in place.
The executive director of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, Colin Rubenstein, condemned the protest efforts Feb. 6.
“We are disturbed and saddened by the groups and individuals determined to politicise this visit by labelling it ‘divisive’ and attempting to misrepresent Herzog’s words after October 7,” he said. “Our view is that, after Bondi, Herzog’s visit is not only appropriate, but an essential part of the healing process — and we are very confident we represent the overwhelming majority of Australian Jews in saying as much.”
With contributions from JTA and JNS.
