![\"Isaac](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/85ef2fa1a0162294d17677b7513326a2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nIsraeli President Isaac Herzog has met with the prime minister in Canberra but has not been invited to address the parliament, as protesters continue to rally against his visit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
President Herzog was received by Governor General Sam Mostyn before continuing to Parliament House, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.<\/p>\n
The prime minister thanked the president for the comfort and solidarity he had provided the Sydney Jewish community.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Isaac Herzog has also met with Sussan Ley. (ABC News: Holly Tregenza)<\/p>\n
Mr Herzog said his visit had been “very emotional” and had been an opportunity to bring relations between the two nations to “a new beginning” and “better future”.<\/p>\n
“I think the relations between us do not depend only on the issue of Israel and the Palestinians and the conflict, but as a much broader base,” he said.<\/p>\n
Ms Ley said she discussed “how we can work together to strengthen our alliance” in her meeting with Mr Herzog, describing the visit as an important moment to strengthen the bilateral relationship.<\/p>\n
“This visit provides a constructive platform to rebuild trust and deepen engagement,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
MPs and senators protest visit\u00a0<\/p>\n
There were two MPs who chose not to attend Question Time in protest of Mr Herzog’s visit.<\/p>\n
Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown said she her protest was about who we were “as a country” while independent Sophie Scamps said she “deeply” disagreed with the invitation that was extended to Mr Herzog.<\/p>\n
Why Herzog won’t be arrested in Australia<\/a><\/p>\n When Israel’s president lands in Australia this weekend, he can expect an official red carpet treatment. But he will be all too aware of the controversy his visit is generating.<\/p>\n A UN Special Commission of Inquiry found comments made by Mr Herzog following the October 7 attack in Israel incited the commission of genocide, an allegation he denies.<\/p>\n “An invitation for the head of state of Israel to visit our parliament normalises the atrocities that have occurred in Gaza over the past two years,” Dr Scamps said.<\/p>\n In Israel, president’s are elected by sitting parliamentarians, not the public, and hold a role similar to Australia’s governor general.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hundreds of peaceful protesters also rallied on the lawn outside and were joined by several federal politicians including Senator David Pocock and Greens leader Larissa Waters.<\/p>\n Senator Pocock earlier called on the government to refuse Mr Herzog an audience in parliament, and said his visit was “only inflaming tensions”.<\/p>\n Peaceful protesters have gathered on the lawns outside Parliament House.\u00a0 (ABC News: Monte Bovill)<\/p>\n Yesterday in parliament Mr Albanese issued a stern message to the crossbench to “turn the temperature down”, saying he would not shy away from backing the visit as important for Jewish Australians following the Bondi terror attack.<\/p>\n Albanese raises Zomi Frankcom’s death in Gaza<\/p>\n The prime minister raised the death of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom during his meeting with the Israeli president.<\/p>\n Ms Frankcom was among seven aid workers killed by an Israeli drone strike in Gaza, in an incident the Israeli Defence Force described as a “grave mistake” caused by “mistaken identity”.<\/p>\n Ms Frankcom’s family have called for an independent investigation into the incident<\/a>, and say no-one has faced accountability for the deaths.<\/p>\n Isaac Herzog was received warmly by Anthony Albanese but was not invited to address parliament. (ABC News: Holly Tregenza)<\/p>\n Mr Albanese said he would continue to push for answers from the Israeli government.<\/p>\n “If President Herzog wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have been able to raise the issue of Zomi Frankcom with him, which is precisely what I did this morning, along with a range of other Australian government concerns,” he said during Question Time.<\/p>\n “That’s why you have dialogue.”<\/p>\n Government condemns West Bank occupation during Herzog visit\u00a0<\/p>\n As Mr Herzog visits Australia, Israel’s security cabinet has moved to extend the occupation of the West Bank, considered illegal under international law<\/a>, undermining hope for a two-state solution.<\/p>\n The Albanese government condemned the move in a statement as it made preparations to welcome Mr Herzog.<\/p>\n![\"Protesters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/84ca0eab084654726cea2510e103614a.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Isaac](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cc386c688bee7ec7fb4cc7c3a793f4c5.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n