NSW Police make rare public plea ahead of Israel President Isaac Herzog’s visit, as protesters fight ban

Protest organizers from the Palestine Action Group have launched a legal challenge against restrictions imposed ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s state visit.

The move comes after the New South Wales Government invoked special powers under the state’s major events legislation ahead of the visit.

Under the powers announced on Saturday, Prime Minister Chris Minns said police would have the power to “stop” anyone behaving disorderly and appealed for calm in Sydney.

“We reiterate our appeal that if you do not need to be in Sydney’s CBD on Monday afternoon, we ask that you do not remain in that area unless absolutely necessary,” he said.

But protest organizers filed an urgent petition in the NSW Supreme Court on Sunday afternoon, demanding that the major events declaration be deemed “invalid and of no legal effect”.

The group’s lawyers are also considering arguing that the powers were given for “improper purposes.”

Despite objections from Crown lawyers, the matter was tabled for an emergency hearing before Judge Robertson Wright at 10 a.m. Monday.

Protest organizers are planning a rally at Sydney City Hall at 5.30pm, followed by a march to Parliament House.

The move comes after NSW Police took the rare step of publicly pleading with protest organizers planning to rally in Sydney to oppose Mr Herzog’s visit.

Mr Herzog will leave Israel on Sunday for a four-day state visit to Australia, where he will meet Anthony Albanese, Jewish leaders and the victims and families of the Bondi Beach terror attack.

The president was invited by Mr Albanese in the days after the December 14 attack; this was a move widely welcomed by the Jewish community.

Despite protest restrictions, up to 5000 people are expected to march to City Hall in Sydney’s CBD.

On Sunday, Acting Deputy Commissioner Paul Dunstan said that although he was confident there would be no “showdown” between protesters and police, his “phone remains on” and he hoped organizers would continue negotiations with police and relocate the event.

“We would love for the group to move to Hyde Park so they can go to Belmore Park to safely have a peaceful protest on the streets of Sydney,” he said.

“I have concerns about the size of City Hall and the potential for overflow into public spaces, which could lead to conflict between police and protesters.

“Therefore, I, among many others, would ask them to consider relocating and continue negotiations with us.”

Mr Dunstan repeatedly noted that Palestine Action Group organizer Josh Lees, who has been at the forefront of police negotiations over pro-Palestinian protests for more than two years, had “gone to great lengths to outline the intent and desire for a peaceful and safe protest”.

“This is exactly what we have been asking for from the group,” Mr Dunstan said.

Mr Dunstan said he was “hopeful” the protest would “not lead to action” but Mr Lees had not committed to doing so.

Palestine Action Group organizer Joshua Lees said the “unprecedented” powers were an “attempt to silence dissent”.

“These powers threaten the civil liberties of everyone in NSW,” he said in a statement.

Mr Lees claimed the laws were “designed to scare and deter people”.

“We are being targeted because we are protesting his visit as a political leader who openly supports and advocates mass murder, siege and displacement in Gaza,” he said.

Many groups, activists and members of the public, as well as NSW Labor MPs, are expected to attend Monday’s protest.

Labor leaders appeal for calm

Finance Minister Jim Chalmers had previously appealed for calm ahead of Mr Herzog’s “controversial” visit to Australia.

But Mr Herzog will be met with protests in Sydney on Monday, as pro-Palestinian groups, human rights organizations and even some Labor Party members gather to oppose the visit and call for Mr Herzog’s possible arrest.

Speaking to the ABC on Sunday, Mr Chalmers appealed for calm ahead of the protest.

“I understand that this visit will be controversial and will invite a variety of views, and some of those views will be strongly held,” he said.

“But this is about grieving with the families and loved ones of the souls stolen at Bondi Beach.

“I hope that any protests that take place while he is here in Australia will be peaceful and legal.”

Speaking earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Mr Herzog’s visit was “hugely important” for Australia’s Jewish population following the Bondi attack.

“In terms of bilateral relations between Australia and Israel, but it’s clear in the wake of the Bondi massacre that this is an extremely important visit for the country,” he told Sky’s Sunday Agenda.

NSW Premier Chris Minns took the extraordinary step of giving police extra powers on Saturday.

Slowing down the “major event” will allow police to take measures to manage crowd safety, maintain separation between different groups and reduce the risk of conflict.

This is the first time such a measure has been used during the visit of a foreign dignitary.

Mr Minns has previously warned that the state government is “not fooling around” and that there will be “a real and very large police presence in the city on Monday night” when protests are planned.

The Labor leader has repeatedly called for “common sense” but warned protesters could expect arrest.

The Palestine Action Group has vowed to oppose temporary restrictions on protests in parts of Sydney at a demonstration at City Hall on Monday following the Bondi attack.

The measures do not ban protests outright, but they do block organizers’ ability to apply for certain protections, including movement or traffic obstruction fees.

The police are expected to make a statement to the press about the measures later.

Mr Albanese, for his part, repeatedly touched on the importance of Mr Herzog’s visit on Saturday, saying he hoped “people will respect the fact that this is a difficult time for families, particularly in the Bondi community”.