Labor Party Divided Over Israeli President Isaac Herzog's Upcoming Visit

A faction within the Australian Labor Party, specifically the Labor Friends of Palestine group, has urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to withdraw the invitation extended to Israeli President Isaac Herzog for an upcoming visit to Australia. This call comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Israel's military actions in Gaza and the recent antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach. The group, which claims over 1,000 grassroots members, argues that Herzog's presence could exacerbate racism and antisemitism, as he is perceived not as a neutral figure but as someone complicit in alleged violations of international law during the Gaza conflict.

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Herzog's invitation has sparked significant debate within the Labor movement, particularly following his statements regarding the October 7 attacks on Israel, where he suggested that "an entire nation" was responsible. Additionally, a United Nations commission's report in September 2025 accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, implicating Herzog alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The Israeli government has dismissed this report as "distorted and false," asserting that it relies on misinformation from Hamas.

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Legal experts, including Donald Rothwell from the Australian National University, have indicated that the Australian government is unlikely to take action against Herzog, citing his status as a sitting head of state, which grants him immunity from prosecution under Australian law. Monique Cormier, an associate professor at Monash University, echoed this sentiment, stating that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) would require the Attorney General's consent to investigate Herzog, which is deemed improbable.

The Guardian

Critics of the calls to rescind Herzog's invitation, such as Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, have characterized these demands as an escalation of rhetoric that undermines Australia's longstanding relationship with Israel. Leibler emphasized that the calls are not grounded in fact or law, arguing that Herzog's visit should not be politicized.

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The potential visit has also prompted concerns about protests, with smaller Jewish organizations warning of significant demonstrations, including participation from Jewish community members. Shamikh Badra, a Palestinian Australian who has lost family in the Gaza conflict, has formally complained to the government, urging an assessment of obligations under the UN genocide convention.

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Prime Minister Albanese has maintained that Herzog's visit is appropriate for a head of state, clarifying that he did not invite Netanyahu. He has also expressed sympathy for the victims of the Bondi attack, stating, "My heart breaks for the families of the victims." However, he has resisted calls for a federal royal commission into antisemitism, opting instead for a review led by former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson.

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• “Calls by groups such as Labor Friends of Palestine to rescind the invitation, or for police to investigate a visiting ceremonial head of state, are not grounded in fact or law.” — Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia

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• “it is an entire nation out there that is responsible” — Isaac Herzog, President of Israel

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• “The government must call a royal commission into the causes of the Bondi beach massacre, the broader ecosystem of terror and hate and the capacity of the agencies to monitor terrorist threats,” — Open letter from Labor party affiliates

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While the Labor Friends of Palestine group and other smaller Jewish organizations have called for Herzog's invitation to be rescinded, mainstream Jewish groups have welcomed the visit, highlighting a divide in community sentiment. Additionally, legal experts have differing views on the implications of Herzog's visit concerning international law and head of state immunity.

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