Israeli President Isaac Herzog has departed Australia following a brief three-day tour, as thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators flooded the streets of Melbourne, leading to heightened tensions with law enforcement. The protests, which saw crowds gather outside Flinders Street Station in the city centre, featured placards with anti-Israel messages and chants of 'intifada Palestine', a phrase widely condemned by Jewish groups as advocating violence.
Mass Gathering in Melbourne CBD
As Herzog boarded his flight back to Israel, up to 10,000 protesters marched through Melbourne's Central Business District, from South Melbourne to Parliament House. The demonstration was part of a planned event that managed to avoid the violent clashes seen earlier in the week in Sydney, though it created a charged atmosphere. Victoria Police confirmed that a large presence of officers monitored the protest to ensure public safety, with special powers granted for Herzog's visit remaining unused.
Controversial Slogans and Police Response
The crowd chanted slogans such as 'globalise intifada' and 'from the river to the sea', the latter linked to the Palestinian group Hamas. These phrases have sparked controversy and condemnation from Jewish communities. Police reported one incident where a 39-year-old man from Coburg North was field interviewed and released pending summons for assaulting an officer, though no physical injuries occurred.
Herzog's Visit Marred by Protests
President Herzog, 65, visited Australia at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to offer comfort to the Jewish community after the Bondi terror attack. His trip, however, was overshadowed by protests in both Sydney and Melbourne. On Thursday afternoon, Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog attended an event in Melbourne before departing in the evening, as tensions simmered in the streets.
Avoiding Sydney-Style Clashes
The Melbourne protest avoided a repeat of the violent scenes in Sydney, where over 5,000 demonstrators clashed with police near Parliament. In Sydney, authorities had worked to prevent protesters from meeting with 7,000 Jewish community members attending a 'light and solidarity' event at a convention centre. In contrast, Melbourne's demonstration remained largely peaceful, with police focusing on crowd control and safety measures.
The protests highlight ongoing international tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Australian cities becoming focal points for activism. As Herzog's plane left Australian airspace, the echoes of chants and placards in Melbourne underscored the deep divisions and passionate advocacy on both sides of the issue.
