source : the age
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has visited Bondi, where he laid a wreath and two stones from Jerusalem in honour of the 15 victims of the attack on Jews celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.
If you’re just joining us, here’s what we have covered so far:
- Herzog and his wife, first lady Michal, visited Bondi Pavilion this morning. They met members of Sydney’s Jewish community, including victims of the terror attack, and laid tributes to the 15 victims. The stones represented “the unbreakable bond between the living and those we have lost” and would remain at Bondi for eternity, he said.
- Pro-Palestinian protesters are in the Supreme Court to make an urgent challenge against sweeping powers given to NSW Police by the state government during Herzog’s visit. “We’re not seeking any confrontation or conflict with police,” Palestine Action Group spokesperson Josh Lees told media before the hearing.
- The group estimates about 5000 people will attend a demonstration at Sydney Town Hall from 5.30pm today. They are separately lobbying NSW Police to allow a fast march to parliament, a request that has so far been refused.
- Sydneysiders can expect disruptions, road closures and a heavy police presence across the city this week. Multiple road closures are in place until 2pm on Thursday and more than 500 officers have been rostered on to police today’s protest.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has paid tribute to the 15 victims of the Bondi terror attack, their families and the heroes who risked their lives to save others in a social media post marking the beginning of this official visit to Australia.
“Standing here at Bondi – an iconic symbol of Australian life, now scarred by the December 14th massacre – I embrace our Australian Jewish sisters and brothers still reeling from this trauma,” read the post on X.
“I also reach out to the wonderful people of Australia who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Australian Jews in the aftermath of the attack.
“My visit to Australia, to all of you, is one of solidarity, strength, and sincere friendship from the State of Israel and the people of Israel. Together, we must confront the evils of antisemitism, extremism, and terror here in Australia and around the world.”
A motorcade escorted by police has arrived at Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s accommodation.
Several police motorcycles and cars escorted the motorcade into a cordoned-off street in Sydney’s CBD.
Heavily armed officers stationed on nearby rooftops watched on as a police helicopter circled above.
A large police presence remains in place both inside and outside the cordoned-off section.
Supreme Court Justice Robertson Wright has told the parties in the urgent legal challenge to police powers granted for the duration of the Israeli president’s visit that he is aiming to deliver his decision by 4pm. He’s made a court listing for that time.
There is a possibility, however, that his decision may end up being closer to 5pm.
The Palestine Action Group’s planned protest is due to start at Sydney Town Hall at 5.30pm.
A pro-Palestinian protester who yelled “shame” as Herzog left Bondi Pavilion has been issued a move on direction by police under the Major Events Act.
The use of the act for the president’s visit is currently being contested in the Supreme Court by the Palestine Action Group.
A specialist officer, who called the man an “agitator”, briefly placed him under arrest. Police said his comments and behaviour may have incited fear.
Under the move on order, the 25-year-old man, who is a Bondi local, may not visit areas in Pyrmont, around the International Convention Centre, and in Bondi with the intention of behaving in a way that may incite fear or intimidation. The order lasts for three days.
The man, who declined to provide his name, complied with police direction.
He said he came to the pavilion to take photos and didn’t plan on protesting.
“What I said was a completely natural response to what is going on,” he said.
“Herzog’s visit causes fear,” the man said. “He is the agitator … I want to be on the right side of history.”
He is a regular attendee of protests organised by the Palestine Action Group.
The NSW Supreme Court is expected to take a break after 1.30pm as submissions conclude in an eleventh-hour challenge to police powers granted for the duration of the Israeli president’s visit to Australia.
Justice Robertson Wright is expected to deliver his decision before a planned Palestine Action Group protest starts at 5.30pm at Sydney Town Hall.
In light of the urgency, Wright is expected to make orders this afternoon but to deliver written reasons at a later date.
Returning to the Supreme Court in Sydney, where an urgent legal challenge to sweeping police powers during Herzog’s visit is continuing.
The NSW government quietly declared Herzog’s visit a major event on Friday under legislation typically used to manage crowds at sporting events. The declaration was announced on Saturday.
The court will decide today if this was a valid exercise of the state government’s legal powers after the Palestine Action Group filed a challenge.
The decision must be made before the group’s planned protest at 5.30pm today.
Barrister Felicity Graham, acting for the group, argued the declaration was made for the improper purpose of shutting down a protest when the laws were aimed at facilitating major events in NSW.
There was “no evidence” Herzog intended to visit Sydney Town Hall or the NSW parliament, where protesters wanted to march, Graham said.
Justice Robertson Wright, presiding over the hearing, put to Graham that the government’s comments when the major events declaration was announced appeared to suggest its aim was “not suppression of protest, but keeping two groups separate”.
The government said in a media release on Saturday that “we cannot allow a situation where mourners, visitors and protesters are brought into close proximity in a way that risks conflict, violence or public disorder”.
Wright said the declaration was also made in “the context of what occurred on the 14th of December where, it appears, there are elements in Australian society who think that it is appropriate to take weapons and shoot various people who are participating in a religious celebration”.
Graham said that the “key purpose needs to be to facilitate a major event”.
The judge said that this was “a very broad way of putting it”.
As the president departed Bondi, one person started clapping. Another person, a man who appeared to be in his late 20s, started yelling “boo”.
“Shame on you! Free Palestine,” he yelled as the cars departed. As police approached the protester, a second man, who appeared to be with the first, gave the motorcade the finger.
The man is being spoken to by police.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has visited Bondi, where he laid a wreath and two stones from Jerusalem in honour of the 15 victims of the attack on Jews celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.
If you’re just joining us, here’s what we have covered so far:
- Herzog and his wife, first lady Michal, visited Bondi Pavilion this morning. They met members of Sydney’s Jewish community, including victims of the terror attack, and laid tributes to the 15 victims. The stones represented “the unbreakable bond between the living and those we have lost” and would remain at Bondi for eternity, he said.
- Pro-Palestinian protesters are in the Supreme Court to make an urgent challenge against sweeping powers given to NSW Police by the state government during Herzog’s visit. “We’re not seeking any confrontation or conflict with police,” Palestine Action Group spokesperson Josh Lees told media before the hearing.
- The group estimates about 5000 people will attend a demonstration at Sydney Town Hall from 5.30pm today. They are separately lobbying NSW Police to allow a fast march to parliament, a request that has so far been refused.
- Sydneysiders can expect disruptions, road closures and a heavy police presence across the city this week. Multiple road closures are in place until 2pm on Thursday and more than 500 officers have been rostered on to police today’s protest.
The Israeli president was asked if he had a message for the pro-Palestinian supporters rallying against his visit today.
“I have come here in goodwill and in a message that people of Australia – Australia and Israel are close friends and allies since the days of old,” he said.
Herzog said the demonstrations “undermine and delegitimise” his nation’s “mere existence”.
“We did not seek that war on October 7,” he said. “People were butchered, murdered, raped and burnt and abducted. We have here bereaved Israeli families who came from … Kibbutz Nir Oz and from the war in order to express their condolences here at Bondi.”
Herzog said he is in Australia to embrace and console the victims’ families and to address antisemitism here and abroad.
“When one Jew is hurt, all Jews feel their pain,” he said.
“Antisemitism here in Australia is not a Jewish problem – it is an Australian problem and a global problem. Over the generations, one thing has become clear – hatred that starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews.
“This is why the current rise in antisemitism around the world is a global emergency, and we must all act to fight against it.”
