Canberra beefs up police presence for Israeli President Herzog visit

A large police presence was in place in Canberra on Wednesday as Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited the Australian capital, with protests outside Parliament.

Herzog’s four-day visit, which began on Monday in Sydney under tight security, sparked protests across the country, with critics accusing Israel of human rights abuses in the Gaza conflict.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Police Chief Scott Lee said on Tuesday there would be “a significant and dedicated police presence… on the streets of Canberra” as authorities expected further protests during Herzog’s visit.

Herzog arrived at Government House on Wednesday morning and met with Governor General Sam Mostyn. According to the ABC, hundreds of people gathered on the lawns in front of Parliament around lunchtime.

On Monday, the Israeli president visited the site of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, in which 15 people were killed during a Jewish holiday in December.

On Monday evening, 27 people were arrested in downtown Sydney during a protest against the visit. New South Wales Police have charged a number of people with assault and public order offences.

Herzog met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whom he was scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, as well as members of the Jewish community, survivors and victims’ families. He is also expected to travel to Melbourne.

Albanese defended the Israeli leader’s presence on Tuesday, saying “the visit is an important opportunity for President Herzog to stand with Australian Jews and remember those innocent lives lost on December 14.”