President Isaac Herzog concluded his visit to Australia with a large Jewish community gathering in Melbourne
By Sammy,
President Isaac Herzog concluded his visit to Australia with a large Jewish community gathering in Melbourne, held in the presence of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, and senior representatives of Australian and global Zionist organizations. Framing the purpose of his trip, Herzog said that he and the First Lady had come "on a journey of solidarity, following the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi," adding that they came "to look you in the eye, to embrace, and to remember, together." He noted that despite days of grief, they were returning to Israel "feeling empowered, because we have seen firsthand the beauty and resilience of this community."
Herzog described his meetings throughout the week with Australia's national leadership as open and serious. He said he met people "willing to hold serious conversations and address the vile rhetoric, the misinformation, and the shameful antisemitism head-on." Commenting on the security presence outside the gathering, he called it "obscure and odd that we need to have so many incredible police officers protecting us for the inherent right of us to gather here as proud Jews." He also addressed the demonstrators outside the event, saying, "go protest in front of the Iranian embassy," and condemned the Iranian regime which he described as having "killed and butchered around fifty thousand, tens of thousands of their own people."
Throughout his remarks, Herzog pointed to the determination of Australian Jewry, calling their spirit "simply unbreakable." He sent well-wishes to the injured, including Gefen Bitton, who "ran towards the terrorists at Bondi" and is now recovering in Israel. He urged the community to "keep your Jewish hearts on your sleeves and wear your Zionism with pride," arguing that the struggle is both for Jewish identity and for "the identity of Australia and the free world."
The President reflected on the mutual support between Israel and the Diaspora, saying, "we leave more strengthened than before" and that "we have each other." He added that the visit served as a reminder "that Israel has been the focal point of your prayers, your love, and your longing." Concluding his trip, Herzog said that being in Melbourne reaffirmed that "for Jews, hope is not wishful thinking. It is a promise."
Topics: Iran
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.