Australia calls for restraint after clashes in Sydney amid Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit
Australian politicians urged restraint on Tuesday after police in Sydney clashed with people protesting the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog, who is accused of inciting a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Police made at least 27 arrests amid allegations of excessive force used against protesters and rights groups, reports said. Violence broke out on the evening of 9 February after thousands of people gathered near Sydney Town Hall to oppose Mr Herzog’s visit.
The New South Wales Police said officers moved to clear the area after demonstrators attempted to breach blockades, resulting in arrests. Ten people were accused of assaulting police officers.
Tear gas and pepper spray were used to disperse the crowd, while television footage showed officers pushing protesters back and restraining some of them on the ground. Police said there were no reports of serious injuries.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese said he was “devastated” by the scenes and called for peaceful protests.
“Australians want two things. They don’t want conflict brought here. They want the killing to stop, whether it’s Israelis or Palestinians, but they do not want conflict brought here,” he told radio station Triple M.
“The causes are not advanced by these sorts of scenes – they are undermined.”
The protests came as Mr Herzog began a four-day state visit focused on commemorating victims of a December attack at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed in what authorities described as Australia’s worst mass shooting in 29 years.
He laid a wreath and two stones brought from Jerusalem at Bondi Pavilion and met survivors and families of those killed. “When one Jew is hurt, all Jews feel their pain,” he said, adding he was there to “embrace and console the bereaved families”.
“We were shaken to our core when we first heard about the Bondi Beach attack. Our heart missed a beat, like all Israelis and all Jews. And I’m here to express solidarity, friendship, and love,” Mr Herzog said.
“And I also believe that this is an opportunity to upgrade the relations between Israel and Australia because we are two democracies that share values together and we are confronting the roots of evil from all over the world. And we should do so together,” he added.
He said the stones would remain as a reminder that people of all faiths and nations “will continue to hold strong in the face of terror, violence and hatred, and that we shall overcome this evil together”.
Security was tight during the visit, with police snipers visible on rooftops. Mr Herzog is also due to visit Melbourne and Canberra before returning to Israel on Thursday.
Authorities had granted police rarely used powers during the Sydney protest, including directing crowds to move, restricting access to areas and searching vehicles.
