Israeli President Isaac Herzog concluded a four-day official visit to Australia that combined gestures of solidarity with the country’s Jewish community in the wake of last year’s deadly Bondi Beach antisemitic attack with intense public debate and large protests across major cities.

Herzog arrived in Sydney on February 9, beginning a programme of engagements aimed at comforting Jewish Australians, meeting survivors and families, and reinforcing the long-standing ties between Australia and Israel.

Herzog’s visit was marked early by solemn remembrance at Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah celebration late in 2025, and by meetings with community leaders and political figures.

At a major event in Melbourne on his final day, he told assembled Jewish Australians that he felt “hope in the air” and acknowledged the community’s resilience, reiterating messages of unity and pride.

He emphasised the importance of confronting rising antisemitism head-on and noted the strong respect and goodwill that he said most Australians hold toward Jewish citizens.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state leaders, including the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, underscored their support for the visit’s objectives, framing Herzog’s presence as a gesture of solidarity and a reaffirmation of ties between Canberra and Jerusalem.

Australian Jewish communal representatives welcomed the visit as meaningful reassurance for a community still processing trauma from the Bondi tragedy and broader incidents of intolerance.

However, the visit also exposed deep divisions within Australian society.

In Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, thousands of demonstrators rallied against Herzog’s presence, protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza and opposing his invitation.

Some protests, particularly in Sydney, were met with robust police responses, leading to scrutiny of law enforcement conduct and subsequent investigations into crowd management tactics.

Anti-Herzog graffiti and denunciations of his leadership circulated in public spaces, reflecting the intensity of opposition from some quarters.

The complex reception to Herzog’s visit highlighted wider debates over Australia’s social cohesion, the framing of international conflict issues at home, and the role of foreign dignitaries in national dialogues.

Officials stressed that the majority of Australians seek peaceful coexistence and respectful discourse, even as political and social fault lines became more visible through demonstrations and public commentary.

Herzog’s itinerary also included diplomatic discussions with Australian leaders on bilateral relations, and he expressed optimism that these conversations would strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding going forward.

The visit concluded on February 12, with Herzog departing Australia after what he described as an energising and heartfelt engagement with communities across the nation.