From Bondi to Canberra, President Herzog’s Australia Visit Centers on Remembrance, Resilience, and Solidarity

Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Sydney yesterday (Monday) under heightened security and intense media attention, marking the start of a solidarity visit with Australia’s Jewish community in the aftermath of the antisemitic terror attack carried out during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. From the moment he landed, the visit was framed as both a moral statement and a national gesture of support, underscoring Israel’s identification with the victims and with Australian society as a whole.

As the presidential motorcade made its way from the hotel to the site of the attack, passersby and local residents repeatedly stopped along the route, raising their phones and photographing the procession. The scene—repeated throughout the journey—reflected the broad public interest surrounding the visit and highlighted its symbolic weight in the eyes of many Australians, amid a charged national conversation about antisemitism, terrorism, and shared democratic values.

President Isaac Herzog began his visit to Australia by attending a memorial ceremony at the site of the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

Jew-Hatred Unleashed

At the same time as Herzog’s visit, thousands took part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration that escalated into violent confrontations with local police.  According to reports in Australia, 27 demonstrators were arrested during the unrest.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the pro-Palestinian protests on the radio today, expressing his shock, and saying he was devastated by the violence.

During the visit, a local Muslim journalist asked President Herzog whether he also expressed condolences for the tens of thousands of Gazans killed in the war, as he had come to mourn the Jews murdered in the Australian terror attack. Herzog responded firmly and unapologetically, stating that Israel did not choose this war, but was attacked “by terrorists who murdered, raped, burned, and abducted innocent civilians,” leaving the country with no choice but to defend itself. He stressed that responsibility for the war lies with terrorist actors -not the state acting to protect its citizens.

“The Souls of the Jewish People Are Bound Together”

This morning (Tuesday), President Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog visited the Moriah College in Sydney, where they were warmly welcomed by hundreds of students. The President and First Lady then held a question-and-answer session with local Jewish high school students. The discussion focused on the rising wave of antisemitism in Australia, the Bondi Beach terror attack, relations between Israel and Australia, and the unique contribution of Australian Jewry to the State of Israel.

“A massive wave of antisemitism is unfolding in Australia – something we have not seen before, and historically did not expect to see here,” the President said during the meeting. “My recommendation to all of us is to stand tall, look them in the eye, and not be afraid.”

 

Watch President Herzog’s speech:

הגענו לסידני לא רק כדי לומר לכם שאנחנו לצידכם – אלא כדי להראות לכם את זה.

We came to Sydney not to tell you that we are with you, but to show you that we are with you. pic.twitter.com/UNSaDS7f7E

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) February 9, 2026

President Herzog also addressed Israel’s relationship with Australia: “Tomorrow I will meet with the Prime Minister in Canberra and with your political leadership. My goal in this visit is to restore relations to their proper course, to upgrade and improve them, and to renew support for Israel across both sides of the political spectrum. I know that the protesters who curse us and spread lies and severe accusations against our people do not want to hear this. But I believe that the silent majority in Australia does, and wants to return to the right path.”

President Herzog further emphasized that despite its relatively small size, the Jewish community in Australia has a significant impact on Israel. “It is inspiring to see how, from such a great distance, so much love and warmth reach us – thanks to the impressive Jewish educational system here, which preserves a strong and resilient community from generation to generation.”

The President concluded his visit, his words echoing the Biblical verse: “Each one shall aid his fellow, and to his brother he shall say, “Strengthen yourself.” (Isaiah 41:6): “We were deeply moved by the hundreds of students who welcomed us here with songs of ‘Am Yisrael Chai’ and Israeli flags”, he said. “The souls of the Jewish people are bound together, even at the farthest edges of the world.”