Activists face arrest in rally against Herzog

Protesters marching against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s controversial visit to Australia have been urged to move their rally route or face arrest.

Thousands of demonstrators are set to defy protest restrictions when they rally against the Israeli president’s contentious visit to Australia next week, as police warn activists face arrest.

Rallies have been organised in every state capital across the country ahead of Isaac Herzog’s five-day tour, including a major protest in Sydney on Monday.

But the organisers’ proposed protest route – from Town Hall to NSW Parliament House – is prohibited under a declaration that allows police to refuse to authorise public assemblies in key parts of the city.

NSW Police have instead urged Palestine Action Group to come to the table and move the rally to an approved area.

“We do not want to be placed in a situation where we are at Town Hall on Monday evening with a significant number of people enforcing the declaration,” acting assistant commissioner Paul Dunstan told reporters on Friday.

“That may and potentially will result in arrests.

“That can be easily avoided through consultation and working with us to enable protest activity in the right area at the right time.”

Mr Dunstan suggested protesters march along a lawful route from Hyde Park to Belmont Park that had been used on Sunday.

After the Bondi shooting, laws rushed through NSW parliament gave police powers to prevent NSW residents from seeking authorisation for rallies after a declared terrorist incident, leaving participants vulnerable to arrest for obstructing traffic or pedestrians, or marching through the streets.

About 4000 people are expected to attend Monday’s rally, and 500 police will be deployed to monitor the march.

While all visits by heads of state are well policed, Mr Dunstan acknowledged there was “a little bit more attention with this one”.

Israel’s president was controversially invited to Australia by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people on December 14.

He is set to meet with federal politicians as well as those impacted by the terrorist incident.

But protesters and human rights experts have called for his invitation to be rescinded, citing his culpability in Israel’s bombardment and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza.

Mr Herzog has previously said Palestinians bore collective blame for Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

A United Nations Human Rights Council commission of inquiry in September found the statement might reasonably have been interpreted as inciting genocide.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles maintained the president would be a “welcome and honoured guest” in Australia.

“To have the president of Israel here, the equivalent of our governor-general, is really significant for Australia’s Jewish community in the aftermath of the Bondi massacre,” he told reporters.

“He will be treated with all the dignity and respect that he deserves.”

But even some within Labor’s ranks do not want to roll out the red carpet for the Israeli leader.

NSW Labor backbencher Sarah Kaine has said she will be marching over concerns about the visit, while federal backbencher Ed Husic has said he is “very uncomfortable” about the tour.

ΩBy: Kat Wong/AAP