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Thousands protest against President Herzog’s Australia visit
Thousands have gathered across Australia to protest against the arrival of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who is on a multicity trip aimed at expressing solidarity with the Jewish community in the country following a deadly mass shooting last year.
The visit has attracted the ire of some people in Australia, who accuse Herzog of being complicit in civilian deaths in Gaza.
Pro-Palestine groups are organising protests across the country on Monday evening. In Sydney, thousands gathered in a square in the city’s central business district, listening to speeches and shouting pro-Palestine slogans.
“The Bondi massacre was terrible, but from our Australian leadership there’s been no acknowledgement of the Palestinian people and the Gazans,” said Jackson Elliott, a 30-year-old protester from Sydney. “Herzog has dodged all the questions about the occupation and says this visit is about Australia and Israeli relations, but he is complicit.”
There was a heavy police presence with a helicopter circling overhead and officers patrolling on horseback. About 3,000 police personnel will be deployed across Sydney during Herzog’s visit.
People hold placards during a protest against Herzog’s Sydney visit, February 9
Sydney police use pepper spray, scuffles break out at pro-Palestinian rally
Police in the Australian city of Sydney have deployed pepper spray and scuffled with protesters as a march against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit turned violent, according to the AFP news agency.
Police used pepper spray on protesters and members of the media, including AFP, as a pro-Palestinian rally attempted to leave a designated area.
