Legal fight ahead of contentious Israeli president trip

Protesters are headed to court after police were granted extra power to try and stifle demonstrations against the Israeli president’s visit to Australia.

Protesters are heading to court to fight for their right to demonstrate against what a senior minister has conceded is a “contentious” Australian visit by Israel’s president.

Isaac Herzog is due to start his Australian tour on Monday, when he will meet with politicians, Jewish leaders and the families of Bondi massacre victims.

Rallies have been organised in capital cities, with police in Sydney vowing to come down hard on unauthorised protest action.

But protest organisers Palestine Action Group have flagged an urgent NSW Supreme Court challenge after Premier Chris Minns formally declared the visit a major event, granting police extra powers to block movement in the city centre.

“We are taking Chris Minns to court again … he has imposed sweeping search, exclusion and conduct restrictions across our city in an attempt to shut down dissent,” spokesman Josh Lees said on Sunday.

“Instead of defending human rights, the NSW government is using emergency-style powers to shield a visiting head of state from public scrutiny and accountability.”

The group will file its challenge on Monday morning and request an urgent hearing, arguing the powers are excessive, unjustified and unlawful.

Police have been negotiating with the protesters, asking them to alter their route outside a restricted zone through the heart of Sydney.

The protesters have denied that request and insist they will gather at Sydney Town Hall before marching to NSW Parliament.

Police were worried about the chance of conflict between officers and protesters, although organisers had gone to “great efforts” to highlight their desire for a peaceful event, acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited Mr Herzog to visit in the wake of December’s anti-Semitic terror attack, during which 15 innocent people were killed.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers accepted the Israeli president’s presence in Australia was controversial but called for calm among furious protesters.

Along with human rights campaigners and the Greens, they have called for his invitation to be rescinded due to his alleged culpability in Israel’s bombardment and the starvation of Palestinians in Gaza.

“This visit is contentious and it will invite a range of views, and some of those views will be strongly held,” Mr Chalmers told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.

Mr Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role as his nation’s head of state, would not address parliament during the visit, the government confirmed.

But opposition frontbencher Tim Wilson said the president should be invited to make an address, accusing the government of “hiding” the visit despite Mr Albanese’s plan to accompany Mr Herzog for parts of the trip.

Mr Herzog has also defended the tour from criticism, saying his visit is important to the Australian Jewish community reeling from the attack.

He previously suggested Palestinians bore collective blame for Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 before later clarifying his remarks.

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

A number of legal experts have argued Australian authorities have an obligation to investigate the alleged war crimes when he arrives in the nation, based on international law.

The NSW government’s special event, public-safety arrangements will bolster the number of police deployed during Mr Herzog’s visit, while anyone who fails to comply with directions will face penalties that include fines of up to $5500.

Rallies are also planned for capital cities nationwide.

By Alex Mitchell/AAP