Sydney’s streets turned confrontational as Israeli President Isaac Herzog began his Australian tour, invited by PM Anthony Albanese after the devastating Bondi Beach attack. Anti-Israel protests swept cities on Monday, culminating in violent clashes that saw police deploy force and make dozens of arrests.
Hurt by the scenes, Albanese shared his pain on air with Triple M. ‘We Aussies seek no local battles or bloodshed, regardless of Israeli or Palestinian lives,’ he stated firmly, pressing for non-violent expression. Violence, he added, erodes progress.
Pre-visit, he’d beseeched respect for Herzog’s mission to support victims’ kin, a commitment he’s keeping despite flak from Jewish groups on antisemitism failings.
At Town Hall, a massive crowd defied police clearance, sparking mayhem with barrier rushes and passive resistance. Tear gas dispersed the throng; 27 were detained, 10 accused of officer assaults. Courts upheld cops’ toolkit, from orders to inspections.
Herzog stayed distant. Premier Minns lauded police poise in peril. ‘They navigated real hardship,’ he assured the press, echoing peace pleas.
Against the backdrop of national mourning, these events reveal entrenched divides over Israel, challenging unity. Albanese’s outreach for calm underscores efforts to navigate discord without further fracture.