Australian police have defended their actions after violently clashing with protesters during a demonstration against a visit by the Israeli president. Video emerged of police charging and punching protesters during the rally in Sydney on Monday night, with a state parliament MP among those who said they were injured in the clashes. Police said 27 people were arrested, with nine later charged, and 10 officers assaulted. Officers showed remarkable restraint, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said Tuesday, adding they did what they needed to do. Earlier, rally organisers had failed in their court bid to overturn police powers limiting their right to demonstrate during Isaac Herzog's visit.
The government invited Herzog to visit Australia after an antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach, saying it would help the Jewish community heal, despite objections from pro-Palestinian groups. Fifteen people were killed on 14 December after two gunmen shot at crowds at an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Video footage of the protests outside Sydney's Town Hall and surrounding areas - police said 6,000 attended while organisers said it was 50,000 - appeared to show several physical confrontations. Josh Lees from the Palestine Action Group called the violence at the protest the worst he has seen in recent years. He stated all of this could have been avoided if the NSW government had allowed the group to march.
NSW introduced restrictions on public protest after December's shooting. Premier Chris Minns defended the police response, saying authorities had been put in an impossible situation. Meanwhile, activist Grace Tame led chants that have drawn criticism from politicians, and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce suggested she should be stripped of her title of Australian of the Year due to her remarks.
Pro-Palestinian groups object to Herzog's visit, referencing a UN commission which accused him of inciting genocide against Palestinians. Herzog has condemned the UN report, asserting it distorted his comments. Amidst these tensions, another protest is planned, calling for the dismissal of charges against arrested protesters and an investigation into police conduct.
The government invited Herzog to visit Australia after an antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach, saying it would help the Jewish community heal, despite objections from pro-Palestinian groups. Fifteen people were killed on 14 December after two gunmen shot at crowds at an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Video footage of the protests outside Sydney's Town Hall and surrounding areas - police said 6,000 attended while organisers said it was 50,000 - appeared to show several physical confrontations. Josh Lees from the Palestine Action Group called the violence at the protest the worst he has seen in recent years. He stated all of this could have been avoided if the NSW government had allowed the group to march.
NSW introduced restrictions on public protest after December's shooting. Premier Chris Minns defended the police response, saying authorities had been put in an impossible situation. Meanwhile, activist Grace Tame led chants that have drawn criticism from politicians, and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce suggested she should be stripped of her title of Australian of the Year due to her remarks.
Pro-Palestinian groups object to Herzog's visit, referencing a UN commission which accused him of inciting genocide against Palestinians. Herzog has condemned the UN report, asserting it distorted his comments. Amidst these tensions, another protest is planned, calling for the dismissal of charges against arrested protesters and an investigation into police conduct.
