By Anietie anii-bassey
Israeli President Isaac Herzog concluded a four-day visit to Australia on Thursday, wrapping up a trip that offered reassurance to a Jewish community shaken by a recent antisemitic mass shooting while simultaneously drawing thousands of demonstrators protesting Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza.
Herzog’s visit — the first by an Israeli head of state to Australia in six years — took him to Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. Throughout the trip, he was met by heavy security and vocal opposition from protesters who accused him of complicity in alleged war crimes linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The largest demonstration occurred in central Melbourne on Thursday evening as Herzog departed the country. Authorities estimated that about 10,000 people gathered, shutting down several downtown streets in a largely peaceful rally. Police reported only one arrest, charging a protester with assaulting an officer.
The demonstrations reflected deep divisions within Australia over the Israel-Hamas war, which began in 2023 and has since strained diplomatic ties between Canberra and Jerusalem. The Australian government recognized a Palestinian state six months ago, a move that added tension to the bilateral relationship.
Herzog used several public appearances to address critics directly. Speaking at a Jewish community gathering in Melbourne under tight police security, he dismissed protesters’ accusations and instead urged them to focus their anger on Iran.
“I say to all those protesters outside, go protest in front of the Iranian embassy or whichever embassy they have,” Herzog said, describing Iran as an “empire of evil” responsible for killing tens of thousands of its own citizens.
He referred to the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador to Australia six months ago amid allegations that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had directed antisemitic arson attacks in Melbourne and Sydney. The two cities together are home to approximately 85% of Australia’s Jewish population.
The visit came at a particularly sensitive time for that community. Herzog and Australian officials said he had been invited in part to express solidarity following a Dec. 14 mass shooting at a Jewish festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that left 15 people dead. Authorities have alleged the attack was inspired by the Islamic State group.
On his first day in Australia, Herzog laid a wreath at Bondi Beach and met with survivors and families of the victims. Community leaders described his presence as deeply meaningful for those still grieving.
“The community in Sydney is feeling extremely uplifted and seen following his visits,” said Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, who accompanied Herzog during his trip. Leibler appealed to demonstrators to consider the trauma still felt within the Jewish community.
Yet critics argued that the visit went beyond expressions of sympathy. In a statement issued last week, Herzog said he hoped to “reinvigorate” bilateral relations and “dispel many of the lies and misinformation spread about Israel over the last two years.” That characterization prompted some observers to question the purpose of the trip.
“Now that means his visit is not a visit to mourn, but it’s a visit that is political, that is in fact propaganda,” said Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti.
Sidoti was among three experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to an inquiry that reported last September that Herzog, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had incited the commission of genocide in Gaza — an allegation strongly rejected by Israeli officials.
Herzog maintained that his meetings with Australian leaders were constructive. After talks in Canberra, where he addressed the media at Parliament House, he described the discussions with political figures and other influential voices as candid and respectful.
“I found serious partners who are willing to hold serious conversations and address the vile rhetoric, the misinformation, the shameful antisemitism head on,” he said, adding that he viewed the visit as an opportunity to reset relations on “a new beginning and a better future.”
Security remained a recurring theme throughout the trip. Police confirmed that a planned visit to the ruins of Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue — which authorities have accused Iran of torching in late 2024 — was canceled due to safety concerns. Anti-Herzog graffiti discovered overnight at the University of Melbourne was removed early Thursday morning.
In a statement, the university condemned the vandalism. “The university stands firmly against antisemitism. Racism, hatred and violence have no place in our society or our nation,” it said, noting that cleaning crews were dispatched promptly to remove the graffiti.
The protests and heightened security illustrated the extent to which the Gaza conflict has reverberated far beyond the Middle East, shaping domestic debates in countries like Australia with sizable Jewish and Muslim communities.
While Herzog’s supporters said his visit brought comfort and solidarity at a time of fear, opponents argued that it symbolized unresolved grievances over the civilian toll in Gaza.
As Herzog departed Melbourne, the immediate tensions of the visit subsided, but the broader political and social questions it exposed remain. For Australia and Israel, rebuilding trust amid sharply differing views on the war and the future of Palestinian statehood will likely prove far more complex than the ceremonial diplomacy of a four-day tour.
Original article
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