Israeli president’s five-day Australia visit locked in
Israeli President Isaac Herzog He will travel to Australia on a five-day visit to meet with federal leaders and meet with survivors of the Bondi terror attack.
Mr Herzog, who was invited to Australia by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the terrorist attacks, will visit Australia between February 8 and February 12.
“President Herzog will visit Jewish communities in Australia to express solidarity and strengthen the community in the wake of the attack,” his office said in a statement overnight.
“A central part of the visit will be devoted to formal meetings with senior Australian leaders, including Australia’s governor general and prime minister, as well as leaders across the political spectrum.”
During the terrorist attack, a father and son opened fire on Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach on December 14, killing 15 people.
The Israeli president’s visit, announced by Mr Albanese in the wake of the shooting, led legal groups to call for the Australian Federal Police to investigate Mr Herzog for allegedly inciting genocide.
The UN Human Rights Council investigation examining the war in Gaza found that the president’s comments following Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7 were evidence of genocidal intent.
The president denied the allegations and said the remarks were taken out of context.
The Labor Friends of Palestine group also called for the Israeli president’s invitation to be cancelled.
Confirmation of Mr Herzog’s visit came as former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison told an anti-Semitic conference that Australian Islamic preachers should be accredited following the Bondi attack.
He also called for sermons to be translated into English and for ties to foreign Islamist groups to be tightened.
“Some will try to portray these statements as hostile to Australia’s Islamic community or even multiculturalism, and try to exaggerate the usual accusations of Islamophobia,” Mr Morrison said in his speech.
“On the contrary, I advocate reforms that I believe will help religious leaders in our Islamic society keep the wolves away from their flocks.
“After December 14, all options to combat antisemitism must be on the table, without fear or favor. This includes how Islam is practiced and governed in Australia.”
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said the ideas put forward by Mr Morrison had merit.
“Unfortunately, in Australia and other Western countries, there has been a mutation in Islam and they have tried to kill not only Jews but other citizens as well,” he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
“This is something that needs to be completely removed from our society.
“We need to make sure we are not in a situation where religious teachings encourage violence.”
But Labor Minister Pat Conroy said the former prime minister’s calls would do little to improve social cohesion in society.
He told ABC Radio: “I found the whole approach really problematic and troubling… We were very clear that these actions were carried out by people who believed in an extreme perversion of Islam.”
“I think it’s anti-social cohesion to try to hold the entire Islamic community responsible for these actions. It’s incredibly unfair and not a recipe for moving this country forward.”
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