On Monday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog got two very different welcomes in Australia. The government wanted to demonstrate support for the grieving Jewish community, while activists who think he is a war criminal held huge protests.
After 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah festival near Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which was the worst terrorist assault in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asked Herzog to come as a sign of support for Jewish Australians.
Since the incident on December 14, the government has often talked about how important it is for people to get along. Many Australians are angry with Albanese for inviting Herzog, the head of state of a country accused of genocide in Gaza (a accusation that Israel’s government denies), and some have even called for his arrest.
Herzog arrived in Sydney on Monday and dropped a wreath at Bondi Pavilion, which is close to where the massacre happened. At the same time, lawyers for the Palestine Action Group were in court arguing for their right to oppose his presence in an area where the government has put additional rules.
Australia, like many other countries, has had big disagreements over Israel’s conflict in Gaza that have led to rallies. On Monday, as many as 30 protests were planned across the country to celebrate Herzog’s visit.
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