In a diplomatic move aimed at bolstering international relations, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently convened with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. This meeting follows Australia’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine, a significant decision made by the Prime Minister last year.
The two leaders attended a solemn event at the Chabad Bondi synagogue in Sydney on Tuesday evening. The gathering was held in remembrance of the 15 individuals who tragically lost their lives in an attack at the famed Bondi Beach last December.
Meanwhile, the President’s visit to Australia has not been without controversy. Just hours before the synagogue event, a large group of protesters assembled outside a police station in Surry Hills, marking the second consecutive night of demonstrations against President Herzog’s presence in the country. The previous night’s protest had escalated into violence, drawing significant attention.
Despite the heavy police presence and the events of the previous evening, protesters remained resolute, gathering once again in significant numbers. Monday’s demonstrations had resulted in clashes with law enforcement, with footage capturing scenes of pepper spray usage and physical confrontations. A total of 27 people were arrested during the unrest.
The arrests included nine individuals, ranging in age from 19 to 67, who faced charges such as behaving offensively in public and resisting arrest. Among the more harrowing images from the protest was a video showing a man, hands raised, being repeatedly struck in the abdomen by police officers. Another clip depicted a group of Muslim men in prayer, who were forcefully removed from their positions by the authorities.
One man was seen on footage with raised hands being punched repeatedly in the stomach by officers, while another clip showed a group of Muslim men praying before being ripped from their knees and taken away by police.
Five members of the public were hospitalised, including an elderly man and woman.
There was a sense of anger at Tuesday’s protest, with goggle-wearing demonstrators chanting anti-police and anti-government slogans.
A second night of protests in Sydney saw hundreds of pro-Palestine supporters turn out
At least 100 officers (above), on foot and on horseback, monitored a police brutality protest near Surry Hills Police Station on Tuesday evening
Anthony Albanese and Isaac Herzog attend the Chabad Bondi synagogue on Tuesday night
Herzog should never have been invited to Australia, Palestine Action Group spokesman Josh Lees told the rally.
‘In order to roll out the red carpet for him they crushed the rights of the people in this city to protest against him. We absolutely will not be intimidated,’ he said.
Tuesday’s protest came after the city bore witness to ‘a very dark night’ that included ‘unprovoked violence and aggression’ from police, Australia’s special envoy to combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik said.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described the assembly on Monday as a ‘volatile’ crowd.
Premier Chris Minns defended the actions of police and pointed to strong relations between authorities and the Muslim community.
‘NSW Police have had a strong and co-operative relationship with Sydney’s Islamic and Arabic community, going back decades,’ he said.
‘But context is important and the circumstances facing police were incredibly difficult … it was in effect in the middle of a riot.’
Mr Minns criticised his MPs who attended Monday’s rally and called out some speakers for attempting to march despite police restrictions.
Protesters on Tuesday turned up in goggles anticipating pepper-spray
Monday’s protest (above) was triggered by the arrival of Israeli president Isaac Herzog
Labor MP Sarah Kaine, who spoke at the rally, rejected any suggestion she had incited violence.
‘I got this almighty shove from my right and I went flying, lifted off the ground … and then this one copper just punched me as I was trying to get my balance,’ she told AAP just hours after returning from hospital.
‘I only weigh 60kg, I’m only five foot three, I don’t understand why they were attacking me. I’d said I was a member of parliament.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it, it was so brutal.’
Officers restricted movement along most of the boundary of the demonstration site, forcing the large group into a gridlock.
Police issued a move-on order but the situation escalated as the densely packed crowd struggled to leave before officers rushed at protesters in an attempt to disperse the group.
Grandmother Jann Alhafny, 69, and grandfather Ian Payne, 78, met at Sydney Hospital after being injured in the protest.
Ms Alhafny suffered a fracture to her back and told the ABC she was trying to leave the rally when ‘police just charged at everybody’.
Grandmother Jann Alhafny (above) was injured in Monday’s protest and described police ‘just charging at everybody’
Five people were hospitalised following the protest (above) on Monday
‘I got really scared I was going to get suffocated and was yelling for help,’ she said.
‘He [the officer] was screaming ‘get up, get up’ and I said, ‘I can’t, I’ve injured my back’.’
Mr Payne, who was put in the bed next to Ms Alhafny, suffered a deep cut to his elbow that required six stitches.
‘I’m not a professional protester but what I saw last night… that’s brought me into the real world. It was indescribably bad,’ he said.
Mr Payne was injured alongside his daughter, Larissa, and Greens MP Abigail Boyd while standing near a group of praying Muslims.
Community worker Paula Abood said she was assaulted by police on two occasions while trying to help other rally-goers who were being hit.
‘I’ve never seen anything like this in my 40 years of marching the streets of Sydney,’ she said.
Herzog was invited to Australia after the Bondi terrorist attack.
NSW Police’s response to Monday’s protest triggered a gathering (above) on Tuesday
He has faced scrutiny over 2023 comments which a UN inquiry found might reasonably have been interpreted as inciting genocide against Palestinians.
The president denies that claim and says his comments were taken out of context.
He and Albanese met with victims of the Bondi terror attack and local Jewish community at the Chabad of Bondi on Tuesday.
Herzog told Albanese the attack required ‘broad, serious measures’ and praised the hate speech laws introduced by the Albanese Government.
The pair had dinner at Kirribilli House later Tuesday night.
