With the impending official visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog from February nine to twelve, Australian authorities are intensifying preparations amid fears of significant public unrest and widespread demonstrations.

President Herzog’s trip, extended at the behest of national leaders in the wake of the December Bondi Beach terror attack, is welcomed by many in the Jewish community as a moment of solidarity and healing.

However, it has provoked fierce opposition from pro-Palestinian activists, human rights groups, and some political figures, who argue that the invitation overlooks broader concerns about the war in Gaza and unsettles parts of the Australian public.

State and federal officials, including Premier Chris Minns in New South Wales, have invoked “major event” legislation and extended public safety measures to empower police with enhanced authority to manage protests and maintain order.

Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has declared restricted zones in parts of Sydney’s central business district where large marches are prohibited, while authorities publicly offer alternative routes for lawful demonstrations.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected in city centres across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth, with some organisers, including the Palestine Action Group, vowing to march regardless of restrictions, drawing thousands from diverse communities opposed to the visit.

The government has emphasised that these public safety powers are not intended to ban peaceful protest but to protect all citizens, including protesters, mourners and visiting dignitaries, from potential violence or escalated conflict.

Premier Minns has urged calm and respect on the streets, stressing the obligation to prevent clashes and uphold public safety, while federal leaders have defended the visit as a vital gesture to a community shocked by terrorism.

Rights advocates and civil liberties organisations have called for the revocation of sweeping protest curbs, arguing that they imperil democratic freedoms and may exacerbate tensions.

Herzog’s visit has also prompted legal and diplomatic discourse.

Some protesters and legal campaigners have sought formal investigations or even the arrest of the Israeli president for alleged incitement related to the Gaza conflict, claims that Israel denies and authorities in Australia have declined to act upon.

Government reassurances of a warm official welcome, including red carpet receptions and meetings with national leaders, stand in stark contrast to the deep and polarising public response.

As Australia navigates this complex moment, security deployments — including thousands of police officers in Sydney — underscore the government’s focus on maintaining stability during what is anticipated to be one of the most contentious visits in the nation’s recent diplomatic calendar.