A coalition of Australian advocacy organisations has formally challenged the planned visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, urging the federal government to reconsider his invitation amid serious human rights concerns and escalating community tensions.

The pushback, emerging in the wake of the December Bondi Beach terror attack that killed fifteen people at a Hanukkah celebration, encapsulates deep divisions over foreign policy, national values and solidarity with domestic communities.

The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), a prominent Islamic body, has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to withdraw the invitation for President Herzog’s visit, which is scheduled for February.

ANIC’s statement argues that Herzog is "implicated in widespread war crimes and breaches of international law" and should not be afforded legitimacy on Australian soil.

While expressing sympathy for the Jewish community’s grief over the Bondi attack, ANIC said accountability and justice must not be compromised by extending a high-profile diplomatic visit.

In a related development, the Jewish Council of Australia, a progressive Jewish advocacy organisation representing non-Zionist Jewish perspectives, issued its own call for the Albanese government to rescind the invitation.

The council described the planned visit as inappropriate and offensive, asserting that hosting a foreign head of state “implicated in an ongoing genocide” risks exacerbating divisions and undermining Australia’s commitment to international law and human rights.

The organisation noted that tens of thousands of Australians have added their names to a petition supporting its position.

Separately, a coalition of legal and human rights groups, including the Australian Centre for International Justice and allied international partners, has formally requested that the Australian Federal Police investigate President Herzog for alleged incitement related to the conflict in Gaza.

The groups contend that credible international findings indicate conduct meriting inquiry, a call that intersects with broader debates over accountability and diplomatic immunities afforded to visiting heads of state.

The federal government has defended the invitation, framing Herzog’s visit as an opportunity to honour and remember the victims of the Bondi Beach attack and to provide support to Jewish Australians.

Prime Minister Albanese has emphasised solidarity and national unity, even as the controversy exposes divergent views within Australia’s diverse communities on how best to balance respect for mourning with advocacy for human rights and justice.

The debate over Herzog’s visit reflects broader tensions in Australian society over foreign policy, domestic cohesion and the interpretation of international law.

As the planned February visit approaches, political leaders and civil society groups face mounting pressure to navigate these complex issues while seeking to maintain social stability and mutual respect among Australia’s varied communities.