Authorities in Sydney are preparing for large-scale demonstrations as pro-Palestine groups plan to protest the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The New South Wales government has classified the presidential visit as a major event and will field roughly 3,000 police personnel across Australia’s largest city to manage potential disturbances.
Police have publicly recommended that protesters assemble in a central Sydney park for reasons described as public safety. Protest organisers, however, have said they will instead gather at the city’s historic Town Hall, setting up a direct dispute over the permitted location.
Law enforcement has been granted powers that are described as rarely used. Those authorisations include the ability to separate and move crowds, to restrict access to particular areas, to direct people to leave locations and to search vehicles. The broad scope of these measures has been emphasised by police officials as necessary to maintain order while the president is in the city.
New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna addressed the media about the policing posture, saying: "We’re hoping we won’t have to use any powers, because we’ve been liaising very closely with the protest organisers." He added: "Overall, it is all of the community that we want to keep safe ... we’ll be there in significant numbers just to make sure that the community is safe."
Herzog’s visit to Australia follows an invitation from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the wake of the deadly Bondi Beach shooting. During his time in the country, Herzog is expected to meet survivors and the families of the 15 people killed in the December 14 shooting that took place during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.
The visit has drawn public opposition from pro-Palestine groups. Demonstrations are planned in major cities across Australia, and one group, the Palestine Action Group, has initiated a legal challenge in a Sydney court against restrictions that have been placed on the anticipated protests. In a statement the Palestine Action Group said: "A national day of protest will be held today, calling for the arrest and investigation of Isaac Herzog, who has been found by the UN Commission of Inquiry to have incited genocide in Gaza." The group framed the legal action as a response to limits on protest activity.
At the same time, some Jewish community leaders have expressed support for the presidential visit. In a statement, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-Chief Executive Alex Ryvchin said Herzog’s visit "will lift the spirits of a pained community."
Not all Jewish organisations share that position. The Jewish Council of Australia, identified as a vocal critic of the Israeli government, released an open letter on Monday signed by over 1,000 Jewish Australian academics and community leaders urging Prime Minister Albanese to rescind the invitation to Herzog.
The situation presents a complex mix of public safety planning, legal contestation and competing community perspectives. Police have stressed preparedness and coordination with protest organisers while also retaining the authority to deploy the special powers if deemed necessary. The legal challenge and the differing public statements from community bodies underscore the strong and varied reactions within Australia to the president’s visit.
Context and next steps
- Police will manage the operational response across the city while organisers and authorities seek to resolve the location dispute.
- Legal proceedings are under way in Sydney regarding restrictions on protest activity.
- Herzog is scheduled to meet survivors and families affected by the December 14 Bondi Beach shooting during his visit.