Albanese urges calm after anti-Israel protesters clashed with Sydney police during Herzog’s visit

Australian leaders urge calm and call for protests to remain peaceful after clashes between anti-Israel demonstrators and police during President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Sydney in the wake of the Bondi terror attack targeting a Hanukkah event.

Police said 27 people were arrested, including 10 for allegedly assaulting officers, after violence broke out yesterday when police moved in to clear thousands of protesters who had gathered near Sydney’s town hall.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is “devastated” by the violence and urges protesters to express their views peacefully.

“Australians want two things. They don’t want conflict brought here. They want killing to stop, whether it’s Israelis or Palestinians, but they do not want conflict brought here,” Albanese tells radio station Triple M.

“The causes are not advanced by these sorts of scenes — they are undermined,” he says.

Prior to Herzog’s arrival, Albanese — who has been criticized by the Jewish community for not dealing with rising antisemitism — had urged people to be respectful of the reason for the visit, saying he would join the president to meet with the families of those killed in the terror attack.

Police had been authorized to use rarely invoked powers during the protest, including directing crowds to move, restricting their entry to certain areas and searching vehicles. A legal challenge to those restrictions was dismissed by a Sydney court.

Herzog was not present at the protest site.

Television footage showed some protesters trying to push through blockades as officers forced them back. Some were seen lying on the ground while police tried to restrain them. Police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns defends police actions, saying officers were required to make rapid decisions in tense and volatile situations, and urged calm.

“I understand there’s criticisms of New South Wales Police, I just want to make it clear they were caught in an impossible situation,” he tells a press conference.