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February 12, 2026 — 5:00am
Sydney is a city divided. If we needed further proof after the ugly scenes that erupted in the heart of the CBD on Monday night, as thousands protested against the visit of Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, an angry post from one of Chris Minns’ closest allies provides that.
Jihad Dib, a minister in Minns’ cabinet and a Muslim, condemned the actions of police on Monday for “the physical disruption of prayers”. In the midst of the chaos, police chose to forcibly end prayers, dragging Muslims away from Town Hall Square. The vision is staggering as you watch, in one instance, a man praying, head bowed. He is pounced on from behind by an officer, dragged to his feet and thrown to the ground. It was not an isolated incident.
“These scenes were confronting and should never have happened,” Dib posted on social media on Tuesday. Dib, who is “deeply distressed by the footage”, says he has spoken to Minns, Police Minister Yasmin Catley and Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon to express “the deep concerns of our community”. His federal counterpart, Muslim MP Ed Husic, shared Dib’s alarm.
“How is it that people engaged in peaceful prayer,” Husic posted on Instagram, “can be moved on faster, more forcibly than black-shirted neo-Nazis standing outside NSW parliament.” (Husic was referring to the 60 neo-Nazis who rallied outside the gates of parliament house in November.)
The state’s anti-protest laws that were rushed through on Christmas Eve after the horror of the December 14 mass killing at Bondi were, according to Minns’ repeated protestations, intended to provide safety to the state in the wake of Australia’s worst terrorist attack. They were also designed to give the Jewish community time to grieve after 15 innocent people were gunned down on the first night of Hanukkah.
However, the most draconian anti-protest laws in the country have also had the devastating consequence of further cementing division in an already hurting city. Social cohesion is under threat and now Minns has to justify whether he has succeeded in balancing community safety with the fundamental democratic right to protest. He also has the heavy-handed actions of police to defend, which so far he has done without question.
Minns did not ask Herzog to come to Sydney. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended the invitation after he had looked weak in the aftermath of the Bondi attack. But he had little choice. After shocking fumbles, Albanese was backed into a corner once Jeremy Leibler, the Zionist Federation of Australia president, urged Herzog to visit.
The visit then became Minns’ problem. The purpose of Herzog’s visit was to offer condolences to the families who lost love ones in Bondi, so Sydney was going to be the main port of call. Minns, fearful of a repeat of scenes at the Opera House just days after the Hamas massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023, was determined to control Monday night.
Late on Friday, Minns declared Herzog’s visit a special event which gave police additional powers to “close off” designated areas and to order people to leave. He announced the move on Saturday (a quiet news day) and urged protesters to stay home. He also criticised the organisers’ insistence to start the rally at Town Hall, with a planned march to NSW Parliament House, rather than Hyde Park, which police had offered to protesters.
Protests, by definition, are not meant to be convenient. The protesters were not going to adhere to demands from the premier. There were other complexities. Before Monday, the closely guarded itinerary of Herzog was known to only a select few and Minns’ fear was that thousands of marchers would finish their rally close to where Herzog was staying – the Intercontinental, two blocks from Macquarie Street. This was a legitimate concern, although this hotel is regularly used for visiting foreign dignitaries who require strict security.
Another concern, again unbeknown to most before Monday, was that 7000 Jewish mourners were invited to hear Herzog speak at the International Convention Centre. Minns was, understandably, anxious that the protesters and mourners could clash. That had the potential to be devastating.
But to expect protesters to abandon their plans was naive and unrealistic. Herzog is a controversial figure and despite his trip being intended to support the mourners, he did not steer away from overtly political statements. The protest was inevitable. Managing it became the only option.
Many of the 7000 who protested did so peacefully.
Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees, who led the march, is a serial protester. He told the crowd: “We are going to take back our streets and demand freedom and humanity.” Many then tried to break the police line in a bid to march. It turned ugly quickly and images of police manhandling some protesters spread.
Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who addressed the crowd, went too far, calling Australia a “spineless colony of the United States”. “All the right-wing, fascist state of Israel has left now are lies, bombs and bloodlust,” she screamed to the crowd. There are calls for her to be stripped of her Australia Day honour. This won’t happen, but her behaviour was unbecoming of someone who has received such prestigious recognition.
Regardless, the actions of the police on Monday night should be reviewed. Officers were put in the impossible position of having to enforce the Minns government’s special powers, which meant stopping an agitated crowd from marching in an increasing febrile environment.
That, however, does not excuse the use of brute force that was captured by onlookers. Minns angrily argued that “10-second clips” from the march were taken out of context. If so, he should show the public the vision that shows this.
Sydney never wants to see such scenes again. As Dib said in his final remarks in his Tuesday statement: “This is a city where people can express different views. Together we must be better than last night.”
Alexandra Smith is state political editor.
