Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Sydney on February 9 for a four-day state visit intended to commemorate victims of a Bondi Beach shooting and to recalibrate strained bilateral ties. His arrival sparked demonstrations across Sydney and other Australian cities, and clashes erupted when police moved to prevent protesters from entering a designated exclusion zone.
Scenes of disorder unfolded on the evening of February 9, with law enforcement using pepper spray against crowds that included protesters and members of the press. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was "shocked" by the violent scenes and reiterated that Australians should be able to express their views peacefully; he noted that police had published an approved march route beforehand.
Herzog framed the trip as a mix of mourning, outreach to victims' families and an effort to reassure and strengthen relations with Australia’s Jewish community. But the visit has exposed deep splits in Australian public opinion: supporters say it will buoy local Jewish communities and help reset diplomatic relations, while opponents, citing Israel’s policies toward Palestinians, staged protests in multiple regions and more than 1,000 Australian Jews signed an open letter declaring Herzog "unwelcome."
The disturbances underscore a broader political dilemma for Canberra: how to balance formal diplomatic ties with Israel and its security arrangements while responding to significant domestic criticism over Palestinian rights and regional conflict. The immediate fallout will test Albanese’s handling of public order and free expression, and it may shape the tone of bilateral engagement and community relations in the weeks ahead.