Herzog’s five-day state visit, invited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the December 14, 2025, ISIS-inspired shooting that killed 16 mostly Jewish people at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, aims to show solidarity with victims and strengthen ties strained by the Gaza war.
Pro-Palestinian groups have planned nationwide rallies on February 9, accusing Herzog of complicity in Gaza’s death toll, citing his past speeches, photos signing artillery shells, and recent damage to a Gaza War Cemetery with Anzac graves.
While Foreign Minister Penny Wong defends the trip as support for a community hit by Australia’s deadliest antisemitic attack, Australia’s Jewish leaders are divided, with police preparing for large protests amid threats.