Violence Erupts as Israeli President Visits Australia Following Deadly Terror Attack

Police clashed with anti-Israel demonstrators in Sydney during protests against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia, resulting in 27 arrests, including 10 for allegedly assaulting officers. The confrontation occurred Monday evening when authorities attempted to clear thousands of protesters gathered near Sydney’s Town Hall.

Herzog’s visit to Australia centered on solidarity with the Jewish community following the December 14 terror attack at a Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration that killed 15 people, marking one of Australia’s deadliest terrorist incidents in recent history.

During his visit, Herzog traveled to Bondi, where he met with bereaved families and participated in memorial events honoring the victims. In a statement posted on social media, he wrote, “Together with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the community’s leader, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, bereaved families, and members of the Jewish community, we united in memory of the 15 victims of the Bondi terror attacks. The terrorists sought to instill fear in the Jewish people—and we respond with renewed Jewish pride, by choosing life and hope.”

Throughout his visit, Herzog emphasized concerns about rising antisemitism, describing it as a global emergency. When questioned about the protests against his presence, he defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The largest of several demonstrations opposing Israel’s ongoing military operations and Herzog’s visit unfolded in Sydney, where authorities had imposed restrictions on protest routes. The situation escalated when police used pepper spray to disperse crowds after tensions flared. Law enforcement officials stated they were responding to violence while maintaining public order, but some protesters and politicians accused authorities of using excessive force.

Former Australian Jewish Association president David Adler characterized the protests as “a disgraceful display,” pointing out that demonstrators had ignored a court decision establishing exclusion zones. Speaking to Sky News Australia, Adler said there was “rejoicing in our community to finally see a bit of pushback from the New South Wales police,” adding that law enforcement had previously shown “a lack of law enforcement when it comes to the incitement, the antisemitism” over the past two and a half years.

Australian Member of Parliament Andrew Wallace emphasized that while Australians “have a right to protest peacefully and lawfully,” the events in Sydney were “not peaceful, and it certainly was not in accordance with directions given by police.”

The demonstrations occur against a backdrop of increasing tensions and antisemitic incidents in Australia. According to the American Jewish Committee, the December Bondi Beach attack followed a sustained rise in anti-Jewish threats and violence across the country. This includes vandalism of synagogues and Jewish schools, arson attacks, and public harassment dating back to October 2023.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has documented more than 1,600 antisemitic incidents between October 2024 and September 2025, following more than 2,000 incidents the previous year, highlighting a troubling trend of rising hate crimes targeting the Jewish community.

Australian government leaders have called for restraint and warned against importing overseas conflicts into domestic streets, emphasizing the need to maintain social cohesion during a period of heightened global tensions.

Israeli officials, including Herzog, have pointed to the Bondi attack as evidence of increasing risks facing Jewish communities worldwide. They have also criticized Australian authorities for what they perceive as a failure to prevent the terrorist attack that targeted the celebration of a Jewish holiday.

The visit continues to spotlight the delicate balance Australian authorities face in managing free expression through protest while ensuring public safety and protecting vulnerable communities amid escalating global conflicts.