Police in the Australian city of Sydney on Monday deployed pepper spray and scuffled with protesters who marched against the Israeli president, who is in the country to commemorate victims of last year\u2019s Bondi Beach massacre.<\/p>\n
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Thousands of people demonstrated in a square in Sydney\u2019s business district on Monday, with more protests planned in cities and towns<\/a> across the country in the evening.<\/p>\n Demonstrators risk arrest if they join a protest march late on Monday, organised by the Palestine Action Group from Sydney Town Hall to New South Wales Parliament, which falls in an area authorities have designated as a special protected area<\/a> during Herzog\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n Palestine Action Group failed in a legal \u200cchallenge in a Sydney court on Monday against the restrictions placed on the demonstration.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re hoping we won\u2019t have to use any powers, because we\u2019ve been liaising very closely with the protest organisers,\u201d Peter McKenna, New South Wales assistant police commissioner, told Nine News on Monday.<\/p>\n Herzog speaks at Bondi Beach<\/p>\n The Israeli president began his four-day visit to Australia at Sydney\u2019s Bondi Beach, where he laid a wreath at a memorial for the victims of the December attack<\/a>, which killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration. He also met survivors and the families of those killed.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was also an attack \u200con all Australians,\u201d Herzog said at the site of the attack. \u201cThey attacked the values that our democracies treasure, the sanctity of human life, the freedom of religion, tolerance, dignity and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m here to express solidarity, friendship, and love,\u201d he added in comments to reporters.<\/p>\n In addition to Sydney, where 3,000 police personnel were to be deployed, Herzog also plans to visit Melbourne and the national capital, Canberra, before he returns to Israel on Thursday.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had urged people to respect the solemn nature of Herzog\u2019s visit, saying the Israeli president had \u201ccome here in goodwill\u201d.<\/p>\n Herzog alleged the protests against his visit were attempts to \u201cundermine and delegitimise\u201d Israel\u2019s right to exist.<\/p>\n![\"Israelli](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AFP__20260209__96MD977__v2__HighRes__AustraliaIsraelDiplomacyBondiAttack-1770627881.jpg\")
President Herzog and his wife, Michal, are escorted by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns as they lay a wreath for the victims of the Bondi Beach attack, in Sydney, Australia, February 9, 2026 [David Gray\/AFP]<\/p>\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AFP__20260209__96MU9ZQ__v1__HighRes__AustraliaIsraelPalestinianConflict-1770627980.jpg\")
People hold up placards during a protest rally against a visit by the Israeli president, in Melbourne, Australia, February 9, 2026 [William West\/AFP]<\/p>\n