‘Unacceptable’: Protesters slammed as Israel President lands in Melbourne
Israeli President Isaac Herzog lashed out at protesters as he wrapped up a four-day trip to Australia that sparked massive protests across the country.
Mr Herzog touched down in Melbourne for the final day of his four-day official state visit to Australia to commemorate the 15 victims of the Hanukkah terror attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Mr Herzog was invited by Anthony Albanese and Governor-General Sam Mostyn to visit Australia to mourn with the Jewish community following the alleged terrorist attack that killed 15 innocent people and injured at least 40 others.
When the Israeli President arrived in Victoria’s capital from Canberra, police were on high alert, with extra powers granted as a “precautionary measure” under the Terrorism Act.
“Victoria Police has been given powers in certain areas that give us the authority to search for the identity of people passing through that area, search individuals, search vehicles and cordon off a particular area,” Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Bob Hill said.
Presidents criticize ‘deeply troubled’ protesters
Speaking to Sunrise, Mr Herzog said his visit to Australia was “a very emotional journey”.
It also marred controversy and led to mass protests in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
There are calls for Mr Herzog’s arrest as protesters label the Israeli President a “war criminal”.
Speaking to Sunrise, Mr Herzog slammed protesters whom host Nat Barr described as “deeply troubled” by his visit to Australia.
Asked about the reason for the protests and accusations that the Israeli President was “encouraging genocide,” Mr. Herzog said they were a “defamatory lie.”
“It’s part of the whole conditions of our lives; it means massive brainwashing with no basis whatsoever, lots of lies and swearing,” he said.
Mr. Herzog said he “cares about the suffering of Palestinians” but that “terrorism cannot reign in the world.”
He then pushed back protesters who were expected to descend on Flinders St Station on Thursday afternoon, alluding to the hypocrisy of the demonstrators.
“The Iranian regime is spending billions of dollars and spreading hatred around the world, killing its own citizens and not caring about their good will,” he said.
“I ask all the protesters in Australia, where are you when nearly 50,000 Iranians are being mowed down and brutally murdered by their own regime and they are still doing it?”
He said the visit was aimed at encouraging positive change in Australia, which he said had a “deep place” in Israeli history.
“I bring a message of goodwill to the people and leaders of Australia,” he said, adding that he hoped there would be “change” amid “the anti-Semitic wave in this country and elsewhere”.
President’s visit to Melbourne synagogue canceled
Around 5,000 protesters are expected to descend on Flinders St Station at 5pm on Thursday; The protests are planned for the early evening of the final day of Mr Herzog’s Australian tour.
He was scheduled to visit the Addas Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, south-east of Melbourne, which was firebombed on December 6, 2024, on Thursday morning, but the visit was canceled due to security concerns.
In Canberra on Wednesday, Mr Albanese met Mr Herzog in the Parliament House courtyard, pointing out that this was where he had expelled the Iranian ambassador last year.
“I stood in this courtyard and announced the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador
“Because of the direct evidence we have of the involvement of the Revolutionary Guard in the atrocities taking place in our nation, Australia,” Albanese said.
“This was the first time we were expelling an ambassador since World War II. We had to take this step because the Iranian regime has of course been oppressing its own people lately.”
More to come
