Hundreds defy NSW’s anti-protest laws in snap rally, Anthony Albanese urged to block Israeli President’s visit
Hundreds of people defied NSW’s anti-protest laws with a flash rally demanding Anthony Albanese cancel Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s controversial visit.
Dozens of NSW Police officers stood by near the protest on Friday night; It is the first pro-Palestinian demonstration since the state’s strict laws restricting public gatherings following the Bondi Beach terror attack.
At the meeting, which had about 300 attendees, many gathered peacefully and condemned the Prime Minister and Secretary of State Penny Wong’s welcome to Mr. Herzog.
The pro-Palestinian protest is under heavy police surveillance, with hundreds of protesters rallying for Anthony Albanese to cancel Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia.
Jepke Goudsmit, of the activist group Jews Against Occupation, addressed the crowd and described how Mr Albanese had described the invitation as an “act of solidarity” with the Jewish community.
“Penny Wong described it as a ‘good thing’,” Ms Goudsmit said.
“I and all of us… are against the occupation… we call it an act of submitting to Zionist oppression.”
The rally, which started at 6pm at City Hall, the heart of Sydney CBD, aimed to repeal anti-protest laws, prevent Isaac Herzog from visiting Australia and impose immediate sanctions on Israel.
Ms Goudsmit said Ms Albanese had “betrayed multicultural Australia” by welcoming Mr Herzog’s visit.
He claimed that a significant population of the country opposes Israel’s actions, which have been declared genocide by the United Nations.
“By inviting Herzog to our shores, Albanese is betraying them and the multicultural Australia that stands up for Israel’s countless victims,” Ms Goudsmit said.
One protester told NewsWire he hoped Mr Albanese would reconsider his decision to allow Herzog into Australia.
“My hope is that the Prime Minister, who says he is concerned about the social and recovery divide, will think long and hard about inviting a war criminal to Australia,” Julie Macken said.
“So I hope he will reconsider this invitation, because if he doesn’t it will be deeply damaging to thousands of Australians,” he said.
