Israeli president invited to visit Australia after Bondi shooting

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken with Israeli President Isaac Herzog following the Bondi terror attack, with the governor-general set to issue an official invitation for the leader to visit Australia as soon as possible.

The leaders spoke on the phone on Tuesday, nine days after the shooting at Bondi Beach which targeted a Hanukkah festival and resulted in the deaths of 15 innocent people and one of the two alleged shooters.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said a wave of antisemitism was plaguing Australian society.Credit: Getty Images

Both leaders discussed their shock at the attack, and their condolences to the families of victims.

Albanese informed Herzog that Governor-General Sam Mostyn will soon issue an invitation in accordance with protocol for the Israeli president to visit Australia as soon as possible. Herzog has confirmed he will accept the invitation. A similar invitation was offered from the head of the Zionist Federation of Australia.

It is understood that Herzog spoke to the importance of taking all legal measures to combat antisemitism, extremism and terror in Australia.

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Speaking from Jerusalem a week after the attack, Herzog said to Jewish Australians: “The people of Israel are with you. Despite thousands of miles between us, we feel your pain, we see your courage under fire, we share your sense of abandonment, shock, and horror.

“Here in Jerusalem, we heard your hearts break, and felt our own hearts steeped with grief. We send our sincerest condolences to all those grieving their loved ones, and our warmest wishes for the speedy recovery of all those wounded.”

Shortly after the attacks on December 14, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu layed blame for the shooting on Albanese and Labor’s response to antisemitism since October 7, 2023, and at the recognition of a Palestinian state earlier this year.

“Your government did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia. You did nothing to curb the cancer cells that were growing inside your country. You took no action. You let the disease spread and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today,” Netanyahu said at the time.

The federal government is preparing legislation to bolster hate speech laws and reform the country’s gun ownership system in response to the attack. Labor has rejected calls from the opposition and members of the Jewish community for a federal royal commission into the attacks and antisemitism in Australia, but will hold a review into the workings of police and intelligence agencies.

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