Anthony Albanese defends Israeli President Isaac Herzog visit
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his decision to invite Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Australia, reminding Australians that the visit was “in the context of the devastating anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Bondi”.
While Mr. Albanese acknowledged mixed views on Herzog’s visit, he said “people have the right to express their views.”
“But I want to make this point: President Herzog is coming in the context of the devastating anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Bondi on December 14th,” he told reporters in Perth on Saturday.
“Along with Mayor Herzog, I will be meeting with the families of these victims, innocent lives stolen from people in that local community.
“They were husbands, fathers, daughters, sisters, friends, loved ones. And President Herzog’s visit was to support the Jewish community during a very difficult time.”
Mr Albanese added that President Herzog was the equivalent of the Governor General of Australia.
“So people are going to have their own views on the Middle East. Like I said, people want it in Australia, I think people want innocent lives to be protected, whether Israeli or Palestinian, but they want something else as well; they don’t want conflict brought here,” he said.
“And I hope people are respectful of the fact that this is a difficult time, especially for families in the Bondi community and the Chabad community.”
Isaac Herzog will leave Israel on Sunday for a four-day visit to Australia, during which he will meet with Anthony Albanese, Jewish leaders and the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack and their families.
Although the visit was widely welcomed by the Jewish community, it was met with anger by pro-Palestinian groups, human rights organizations and even some within the Labor Party ranks; It says Mr. Herzog should have been detained by a U.N. tribunal in the days after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack over allegations that he “incited the commission of genocide” in Gaza.
Protesters also drew attention to the International Criminal Court investigation into allegations that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
Both Israel and Mr. Herzog have denied the allegations.
