Sydney Protests Against Herzog Visit End in 27 Arrests

Thousands of protesters gathered in Australian cities including Sydney and Melbourne on Monday to demonstrate against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, leading to clashes with police in Sydney that resulted in 27 arrests and the use of pepper spray to disperse crowds.

Herzog arrived in Australia for a four-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, intended as a gesture of solidarity with the Jewish community following a December 14 mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney. The attack, which authorities classified as an act of antisemitic terrorism, killed 15 people and injured several others. Herzog began his trip by laying a wreath at the site and meeting with victims' families and community members. In a statement upon arrival, he expressed solidarity, saying the visit represented "friendship and love" from Israel and a commitment to confronting antisemitism, extremism, and terror.

Protests erupted across the country, with demonstrators accusing Herzog of complicity in Israel's military actions in Gaza, where the ongoing war has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths since October 2023, according to...