TheAltWorld Australia should not provide a platform for Israel’s security narrative
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia was largely tied to the Bondi memorial. However, in a Q&A session with Jewish students attending Moriah College in Sydney, the tone shifted to Israel’s security narrative.
“I know that the demonstrators and protesters who are cursing us, saying the biggest lies and affirmations against our nation, do not want to hear this, but I believe that the silent majority of Australians definitely want to hear and move back on track,” Herzog stated, conflating criticism of Israel and opposition to Israel’s genocide with antisemitism.
Opposition to Herzog’s visit has been weeks in the making. Referencing Herzog’s statements that incite genocide against Palestinians, the Jewish Council of Australia issued a statement partly reading, “We refuse to let our grief for the Bondi massacre be used to legitimise a leader who has played an active role in the ongoing destruction of Gaza, including the murder of tens of thousands of Palestinians, and the displacement of millions.”
In August 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accused Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of abandoning Australia’s Jewish community and betraying Israel, after the government’s announcement that it would recognise a Palestinian state.
Referencing Herzog’s statements that incite genocide against Palestinians, the Jewish Council of Australia issued a statement partly reading, “We refuse to let our grief for the Bondi massacre be used to legitimise a leader who has played an active role in the ongoing destruction of Gaza, including the murder of tens of thousands of Palestinians, and the displacement of millions.”
As pressure increased on the Australian government to rescind the invitation, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong described Herzog’s visit as “coming to provide support to the Australian Jewish community.” For Jewish people living in Australia, most likely Australian citizens, it should fall on the Australian government to provide support for the Jewish community. The President of Israel has no say over the lives of Australia citizens. Wong also stated that the Jewish community in Australia requested Herzog’s visit. However, not all members of the Jewish community have actively demanded Herzog’s visit, while some have outrightly rejected legitimising the visit, as did the Jewish Council of Australia.
While protestors are pointing out the discrepancies and getting punished by state violence for their clarity, the Australian government is upholding Israel’s security narrative. If Herzog was truly visiting Australia to honour the Bondi victims, why would he bring up Israel in a Q&A with high school students? Why is Australia allowing another head of state, and one that has explicitly incited for genocide against Palestinians, to interfere in Australian society?
At Bondi, Herzog announced, “My visit to Australia, to all of you, is one of solidarity, strength, and sincere friendship from the State of Israel and the people of Israel. Together, we must confront the evils of antisemitism, extremism, and terror here in Australia and around the world.” Drawing Australia into Israel’s security narrative is not a move that protects Jewish people.
On the contrary, the conflation is dangerous and plays with Jewish lives to further the Zionist agenda, which many Jewish people do not stand for. If Australia truly stands for social cohesion, which is doubtful given its colonial history, why would the government agree to allow Herzog a platform which can jeopardise the security of Australian Jewish citizens?
There is no “sincere friendship from the State of Israel.” But there is exploitation of the Jewish people from the State of Israel across the world, which in turn is used to legitimise colonial violence against Palestinians. Jewish people who stand against genocide and colonialism have long recognised the fact.
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