Despite protesters ‘cursing us,’ Herzog says ‘silent majority’ of Australia open-minded about Israel

President Isaac Herzog addresses rising antisemitism in Australia and his intentions to improve relations with the country, while visiting the Moriah College Jewish school in Sydney, according to a statement from his office.

“I know that the demonstrators and protesters who are cursing us, saying the biggest lies and affirmations against our nation, do not want to hear this, but I believe that the silent majority of Australians definitely want to hear and move back on track,” Herzog says during a Q&A session alongside First Lady Michal Herzog with local Jewish high school students.

“My effort in this visit is to bring relations back on track, upgrade them, and improve them,” Herzog tells the school, saying this will be the focus of his meetings tomorrow with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other political officials in Canberra.

The comments came as Australian leaders urged calm and called for protests to remain peaceful after clashes between anti-Israel demonstrators and police during Herzog’s visit, which comes in the wake of the Bondi terror attack in December targeting a Hanukkah event. Dozens were arrested, including 10 for allegedly assaulting officers, after police moved in to clear thousands of protesters who had gathered near Sydney’s town hall yesterday.