Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, urged critics of Australia’s visit President of Israel, Isaac Herzogto consider the context of the visit, Jewish leaders insisted that the government issue an invitation.
Herzog’s visit to Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney next week is fueling growing opposition. Herzog, Israel’s head of state, was invited by the Governor General, Sam Mostyn, to meet members of the Jewish community mourning the 15 victims of the Bondi terror attack.
Chris Sidoti, former Human Rights Commissioner and member of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, It asked the government to withdraw the invitation A case against Israel at the International Court of Justice for genocide and illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.
NSW Labor MPs plan to join a protest against Herzog’s visit Former Cabinet Minister Ed Husick He said Wednesday that he doesn’t believe it will go forward.
Wang told ABC radio it was appropriate for the Israeli head of state to meet with Australian Jews after the December 14 shooting.
“What I really understand about this visit is the depth of feeling in the community about what we saw in Gaza, and that’s why we’re very clear about working, we’re pushing for peace with others in the international community for civilians to be protected and help,” she said.
Asked about Sidoti They called for Herzog’s arrest In Australia, Wang confirmed it was considering legal advice about the trip.
“I have previously said that Israel will be judged by the International Court of Justice in accordance with the Genocide Convention. I have previously said that it must accept its responsibility for the humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
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Wang said the context of the visit was crucial.
“We have an Australian Jewish community that has been targeted in an openly anti-Semitic terrorist attack. We have 15 Australians dead, families are grieving and this is a request from the Jewish community for President Herzog to visit.”
Defense Minister, Richard MarlesHerzog said, “Welcome and honored guest.”
Opposition frontbencher James Patterson called the moves by Labor MPs against the visit “appalling”.
“It seems to me extraordinary and clearly a gesture of bad faith and appalling towards the Australian Jewish community that even the president of the Jewish state of Israel cannot come to Australia for a post-Bondi memorial without Labor MPs openly attacking it, in order to comfort the Australian Jewish community.”
Critics of Herzog’s visit point to the end of the UN commission of inquiry in September 2025. Israel committed genocide in Gaza. The commission said Herzog as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the former defense minister “instigated the Genocide Commission”.
The report quoted Herzog as saying about Gaza in October 2023: “The whole country there is responsible. It’s not true, this rhetoric about uninformed and uninvolved citizens is not true. It’s absolutely not true.”
Herzog denied the allegation that his comments were taken out of context. Formerly the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rejected the reportcalling it “distorted and false” and “relying entirely on Hamas lies.”
Specifically, a Sydney man has been charged with making online threats against a foreign head of state. Australian Federal Police executed a search warrant in the inner-city suburb of Newtown on Wednesday.
Prime Minister, Anthony Albaneseis expected to meet Herzog during his visit.
