Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has thanked the Israeli president for the “comfort” he provided to grieving Jewish Australians as he welcomed him to Parliament House during a controversial four-day visit.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Canberra on Wednesday after two days in Sydney at the invitation of the Albanian government almost two months after the Bondi terror attackwhich focused on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on December 14th.
Immediately after the conclusion of Parliamentary Question Time, the Albanian warmly greeted Herzog at Parliament House and thanked him for the solidarity he and his wife Michal had shown to the community during their visit.
“I look forward to further discussions on the Middle East. We in Australia want to see peace in the Middle East, we want Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace and security,” he said.
Earlier in the day, a Greens senator and an independent senator stood with protesters critical of Herzog’s trip to Australia. Protests against his arrival were held nationwide on Monday and Monday erupted into violent scenes in Sydney.
Herzog said his visit to Australia had been “very emotional”, explaining that the deaths of Jews anywhere in the world cause pain in Israel.
“That is why it was so important to visit the community, express our sincere condolences and strengthen the community,” he told reporters.
The head of state said his trip had also provided an opportunity to move Australian-Israeli relations toward a “new beginning and a better future”.
“I think that the relations between us do not only depend on the issue of Israel and the Palestinians and the conflict, but have a much broader basis,” he said.
Herzog’s visit to Canberra is steeped in tradition, including a welcome ceremony with a 21-gun salute by the Federation Guard, followed by a guard inspection.
However, when he arrived at Government House, people could be heard in the background protesting his visit.
Governor General Sam Mostyn said her official residence was a “place of peace where all are welcome”.
“I think it’s extremely important that your visit is with those who are grieving,” she said.
Herzog said both Australia and Israel “share the need to combat anti-Semitism without any doubt… so we uproot this phenomenon,” adding that he “shares the hope that we can put relations between our nations on a renewed path.”
His comments came as Australia joined the global condemnation of Israeli plans to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank – which are considered illegal under international law.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said the decision “will undermine stability and security”.
“The Australian government has made it clear that settlements are illegal under international law and pose a significant obstacle to peace. Changing the demographic makeup of Palestine is unacceptable,” DFAT said in a statement.
“A two-state solution remains the only viable path to long-term peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.”
‘Wrong decision’: Pocock joins anti-Israel protesters outside parliament
Independent Senator David Pocock joined peaceful anti-Israel protesters on the front lawns of Parliament House, alongside several Greens senators, including party leader Larissa Waters.
Protesters carried large signs with messages such as “stop arming Israel”, “arrest Herzog” and “justice for Palestine”.
Pocock stressed the right of Australians to protest and questioned the Albanian government’s decision to invite Herzog to Australia.
“We have seen what happened in Sydney and there has been a worrying suppression of protests across the country,” he said in response. Images of violent confrontations between police and demonstrators.
“I also think it was the wrong decision to invite President Herzog at a time when we have seen so much pressure on communities and tensions in communities across the country.”
Green Senator Mehreen Faruqi was among the speakers who addressed the crowd, wearing a keffiyeh, a black and white scarf representing Palestinian identity or solidarity.
Mark Gwynneth, a protester in Canberra, said the invitation left him “stunned” and ensured the longtime Labor voter would “never again” vote for the Albanian government.
“I am disgusted that the government is allowing a war criminal to be invited to this country and allowed into our parliament building,” he told SBS News.
“We must arrest him and send him away to face charges of war crimes.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does subject to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Courtbut Herzog is not – and is granted the usual immunity under international law as a visiting head of state.
Another protester condemned the politicization of the Bondi attack, saying it was completely wrong to link it to “the ongoing atrocities in Gaza and even in Palestine”.
“Herzog should have been here to grieve and mourn, but instead he has politicized the process and is very politically advocating the cause of Israel and the oppression of the Palestinians,” he said.
A woman who previously served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said she struggled to watch Israeli actions in Gaza.
“For two years I watched children and families being slaughtered in Gaza. I’m from Israel. I served in the IDF. I was lied to, told we were the most moral army in the world. I had no idea.”
— With additional reporting by Jessica Wang.
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