© 2021 Greek Community Tribune All Rights Reserved

Police and protesters clash during Israeli president visit

March 2026 Protesters have clashed with police, with some restrained and led away in handcuffs, as tensions flared at a Sydney protest rally against visiting Israeli President Isaac Herzog. NSW Police said 27 people were arrested, including 10 for assaulting police, and officers deployed pepper spray at the protest attended by thousands at Sydney Town Hall. Scuffles broke out after officers attempted to disperse protesters. Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said officers were assaulted when police intervened to disperse the crowd when speakers invited those in attendance to march. "We did not want conflict, we did not want clashes with protesters," he told a media conference last week. He said members of Palestine Action Group (PAG), which organised the demonstration, were not cooperative and needed to rebuild trust with NSW Police. Greens senator for NSW David Shoebridge has shared a video on social media that appears to show a protester being punched multiple times by a group of police. Assistant Commissioner McKenna said police used powers under both the public assembly restriction declaration and major event declaration. Attendees carried Palestinian flags and signs criticising Mr Herzog's presence in Australia. Prior of the visit NSW Police said about 3,000 officers would be stationed across the city during his trip, with 500 in the CBD ahead of the protest. One rally attendee said she was "worried" about the heightened security. "I think it would be pretty silly to not look around and feel a bit intimidated by the police presence here," she said. A United Nations special inquiry found Mr Herzog was among Israeli leaders who incited the commission of genocide in Gaza, and his comments are in South Africa's genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice. The allegation of genocide is rejected by Israel, and Mr Herzog maintains his comments have been taken out of context. Meanwhile, an open letter signed by more than 1,000 Jewish Australians said Mr Herzog was "not welcome here".
Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia
© 2021 Greek Community Tribune All Rights Reserved

Police and protesters clash during Israeli

president visit

March 2026 Protesters have clashed with police, with some restrained and led away in handcuffs, as tensions flared at a Sydney protest rally against visiting Israeli President Isaac Herzog. NSW Police said 27 people were arrested, including 10 for assaulting police, and officers deployed pepper spray at the protest attended by thousands at Sydney Town Hall. Scuffles broke out after officers attempted to disperse protesters. Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said officers were assaulted when police intervened to disperse the crowd when speakers invited those in attendance to march. "We did not want conflict, we did not want clashes with protesters," he told a media conference last week. He said members of Palestine Action Group (PAG), which organised the demonstration, were not cooperative and needed to rebuild trust with NSW Police. Greens senator for NSW David Shoebridge has shared a video on social media that appears to show a protester being punched multiple times by a group of police. Assistant Commissioner McKenna said police used powers under both the public assembly restriction declaration and major event declaration. Attendees carried Palestinian flags and signs criticising Mr Herzog's presence in Australia. Prior of the visit NSW Police said about 3,000 officers would be stationed across the city during his trip, with 500 in the CBD ahead of the protest. One rally attendee said she was "worried" about the heightened security. "I think it would be pretty silly to not look around and feel a bit intimidated by the police presence here," she said. A United Nations special inquiry found Mr Herzog was among Israeli leaders who incited the commission of genocide in Gaza, and his comments are in South Africa's genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice. The allegation of genocide is rejected by Israel, and Mr Herzog maintains his comments have been taken out of context. Meanwhile, an open letter signed by more than 1,000 Jewish Australians said Mr Herzog was "not welcome here".
Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia