NSW Premier Chris Minns warns of ‘major security response’ ahead of Israel president's visit

NSW Premier Chris Minns has warned Sydney residents to expect a “major security response” for Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s upcoming state visit as pro-Palestine groups and Labor members pledge to protest.

Mr Herzog will depart Israel on February 8 for a five-day visit to Australia where he will meet with Jewish leaders and families of the December 14 terrorist attack, as well as Anthony Albanese and other high-ranking political leaders.

Mr Albanese extended an invitation to Mr Herzog, a staunch critic of the Labor leader’s response to anti-Semitism, in the days after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

On Thursday, Mr Minns said the state government would take steps to ensure Mr Herzog’s visit “was a safe one, not just for President Herzog but other people in our community”, as protest organisers prepare to rally as soon as next week.

“We’ll have further to say about that in the days ahead, but I think the public can anticipate a major security response,” he said.

“I think most Australians would accept, given the circumstances of his visit, the reason he’s here, to grieve with the Jewish community of Sydney after the worst terrorism event the country’s ever had, that they’d expect the government to be doing just that.”

A partial protest ban over swathes of the city remains in-place under new laws passed following the Bondi attack.

Those restrictions were recently amended to allow for protests at Hyde Park where organisers plan to gather on February 9.

Palestine Action Group organiser Joshua Lees said organisers met on Wednesday to discuss nationwide action.

“That Monday evening, thousands and thousands of us are gonna be gathering in dozens of cities all around the country to say this war criminal is not welcome here,” he said.

“If he steps foot in the country, he should be arrested and investigated for the war crimes he is alleged to have carried out, including inciting genocide in Gaza.”

An independent probe by the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner found Mr Herzog, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had incited the commission of genocide and that authorities had failed to act.

Mr Herzog denied the claim and said remarks were taken out of context by the court.

‘Protocol’

Multiculturalism Minister Dr Anne Aly has refused to confirm whether she would welcome Mr Herzog on his state visit next month.

When pressed on Thursday whether she welcomed Mr Herzog’s visit, Dr Aly, Labor’s highest ranking Muslim MP, repeatedly noted the visit was “protocol”.

“President Herzog was invited in the aftermath of the Bondi attacks, as is protocol, and as is something that is usually done, an invitation is extended, where there is an attack where foreign individuals have been the targets,” she told ABC Radio National.

Pressed if she welcomed the visit, Dr Aly said: “I think, you know, as I said he (was) invited … to commemorate and to remember the victims of the Bondi terror attack”.

“He was invited for victims of the Bondi terror attack, and that is protocol,” she continued.

Asked about Dr Aly’s stance, Anthony Albanese said the minister “made a statement … welcoming the role that this (visit) will play in unity”.

“The atrocity that occurred on December 14 was an appalling event that has traumatised Jewish Australians and President Herzog has been invited here by the Governor-General as head of state to head of state,” he said.

“But, I certainly welcome him coming, and I look forward to (him) visiting, and I note that Anne Aly has made appropriate comments as well.

“We need to build social cohesion in this country.”Confirmation of Mr Herzog’s visit sparked condemnation from within the Labor movement and among pro-Palestine groups who plan to rally in opposition.

In a letter, Labor Friends of Palestine urged Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Wednesday to probe whether Mr Herzog would pass the character test under the Migration Act owing to allegations he incited the commission of genocide over the war in Gaza.

Labor Friends of Palestine co-convener Peter Moss said Mr Herzog’s visit would make “a mockery of all the fine words about hate speech, social cohesion, unity and healing”.

“Isaac Herzog is a divisive inflammatory figure whose statements have been cited by the UN independent Commission of Inquiry as allegedly inciting genocide,” he said.

Independent MP Sophie Scamps mounted similar opposition on Thursday.

“Inviting a foreign head of state who has been found to have incited the commission of genocide risks deeply dividing the Australian community,” she said.

“In the aftermath of the Bondi attack, this visit risks heightening tensions and deepening divisions, at a time when the Government’s priority should be fostering social cohesion, security and safety for Jewish Australians and for all communities.”

Mr Herzog’s visit has been welcomed by many in the Jewish community, including Executive Council of Australian Jewry.