Australian public and political debate has surged over the scheduled visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog in early February, with growing calls from civil society groups and some lawmakers to bar him from entering the country or rescind his invitation.

The controversy stems from Herzog’s anticipated arrival between February eighth and twelfth, during which he is expected to meet Jewish community leaders, federal officials and families affected by the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack in December.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and senior officials have defended the invitation as appropriate and a gesture of solidarity with Jewish Australians following the tragic attack, which claimed the lives of fifteen people and deeply affected the community.

A coalition of organizations — including the Australian National Imams Council, the Jewish Council of Australia and the Hind Rajab Foundation — lodged a formal complaint with the attorney general, home affairs minister and federal police urging authorities to refuse Herzog a visa and to open an investigation into whether his public remarks amount to incitement or unlawful hate speech under Australian law.

Protesters across major cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, have held rallies urging the government to cancel the visit, asserting it could fuel social discord and undermine broader calls for accountability over actions in the Gaza conflict.

Pro-Palestinian groups such as the Palestine Action Group have gone further, planning a “national day of protest” on February ninth and calling for sanctions on Israeli officials.

The dispute has triggered political divisions within Australia’s parliament and public discourse.

Independent and opposition figures, as well as internal factions of the governing Labor Party, have echoed demands for the invitation to be withdrawn.

Some lawmakers warn that the visit may exacerbate tensions and jeopardise community cohesion, particularly in a period already marked by heightened sensitivities.

Meanwhile, supporters of Herzog’s visit, including mainstream Jewish organisations and community leaders, have emphasised the significance of the trip as a symbol of unity, resilience and shared mourning in the wake of the Bondi attack.

State and federal authorities are preparing significant security arrangements to manage both the visit and anticipated demonstrations, with local police coordinating plans to maintain public order during events in Sydney and other cities.

As Canberra navigates the complex balance between diplomatic engagement and domestic pressures, the debate over Herzog’s entry reflects wider tensions over international conflict, freedom of expression and multicultural coexistence in Australia.