Society News

Sydney protest over Herzog's visit ends in pepper spray and 27 arrests

Police used pepper spray and scuffled with protesters in Sydney on Monday evening, February 9, as thousands rallied against a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Police later said 27 people were arrested, 10 of them for allegedly assaulting officers, according to a Reuters report published by The Algemeiner. NSW police reported no serious injuries; Greens MP Abigail Boyd said officers punched her.

Herzog's four-day visit began at Bondi Beach, where he laid a wreath for the 15 people killed in a December attack on a Hanukkah celebration. Al Jazeera reported that about 3,000 police were to be deployed in Sydney and that an evening march from Town Hall to the New South Wales Parliament fell inside an area designated as protected during the visit, after a court rejected a challenge by the organisers, the Palestine Action Group. Hong Kong's RTHK, carrying AFP, said police also hit members of the media with pepper spray and that crowds rallied in Melbourne too.

“His visit will lift the spirits of a pained community.” — Alex Ryvchin, Executive Council of Australian Jewry, via RTHK

“We cannot remain silent.” — Amnesty International Australia, via Al Jazeera

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was “devastated” by the violence and urged peaceful protest. NSW Premier Chris Minns defended the police, and Commissioner Mal Lanyon said officers had shown restraint.

How each outlet framed it

• Al Jazeera — the protesters' case, the UN inquiry finding on Herzog's remarks, and an open letter from more than 1,000 Jewish Australians.
• RTHK — a short agency account that set both Jewish groups' views side by side.
• The Algemeiner (Reuters) — the day after: arrest figures and leaders urging calm.

Where the numbers differ: on the night, an AFP journalist saw at least 15 arrests; police later put the total at 27.