Herzog visit live: Israeli president faces protests in final leg of controversial trip

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog is on the final day of his official visit, meeting with Melbourne’s Jewish community before flying out of the country later today.

In an interview with Seven’s Sunrise this morning, he again rejected protesters’ objections to his visit as part of the “enormous brainwashing with a lot of lies and blasphemy” Israel endures, and dismissed the finding of a UN Commission Inquiry last year that he and others incited genocide as a “total lie” from a “totally politicised” organisation.

In an interview with this masthead published last Saturday, Herzog said that while he did say “an entire nation” of Palestinians bore responsibility for the October 7 massacre of Israelis in 2023, he also said he supported international law and opposed the killing of innocent people.

While his visit has been marked by violent clashes between police and protesters and extensive security lockdowns, Herzog said he found an Australia “that was different from what was depicted”.

“There is antisemitism. It is frightening and worrying. But there’s also a silent majority of Australians who seek peace, who respect the Jewish community, and, of course, want a dialogue with Israel.”

Outside the gates of Government House in Melbourne this morning, a small stand-off unfolded between heavily armed police and a group of about 25 protesters, who heckled from the side of the road as Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived.

Herzog touched down in Melbourne this morning – the final stop in his controversial four-day visit to Australia.

He was whisked past protesters in a motorcade straight from the airport about midday, and inside the gates of Government House, where he is meeting Governor Margaret Gardner and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan for lunch before attending a Jewish community event this afternoon.

The gardens around Government House were mostly quiet on Thursday morning ahead of his arrival – gardeners tended flowerbeds and cycling groups rolled by the road leading up to the gates even as police began to gather.

The odd drone flew overhead, but there were no signs of police snipers on surrounding rooftops – or in trees.

Then about 11am, protesters emerged from the surrounding gardens, some dressed as police, others in black face coverings.

“We are ready to serve and protect war criminals,” shouted a small contingent clad in spoof police uniforms as they imitated the sudden swarm of police officers marching down to clear them back into the gardens.

Police formed a line to secure the road without incident. But as sirens sounded the arrival of Herzog’s motorcade, more protesters arrived, carrying banners and chanting “Herzog you can’t hide, you’re committing genocide” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”.

The protesters have since moved on and police have moved back.

Earlier, former Victorian premier John Brumby slipped through the gates of Government House on foot as a long line of cars with dark tinted windows were ushered inside.

Victoria Police has been granted special powers under terrorism legislation in preparation for Herzog’s visit to Melbourne – his final engagement in Australia before he flies home to Israel.

The powers, which have been used a handful of times, allow police to stop and search vehicles or people in public places, seize items and detain people as a preventative measure.

They will apply to specific areas Herzog intends to visit and are not designed to impact a planned protest expected to attract upwards of 5000 people to the CBD

Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill stressed there was no intelligence suggesting a specific threat, but they had sought additional powers as a preventative measure.

“We want to be clear that there is no intelligence at this time to suggest that the event is the target of any specific threat,” he said.

“However, we are well-prepared for both the visit and any protest activity this week, and have adequate police resources available to provide an agile response to any incidents.”

Hello and thank you for following our live coverage of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Melbourne today, the final leg of his controversial trip to Australia before heading home to Israel.

Herzog has arrived at Government House in Melbourne to meet with Governor Margaret Gordon and Premier Jacinta Allan.

He was originally intending to first visit the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, which was the site of an antisemitic firebombing in 2024, but cancelled the engagement over safety concerns.

Activists will protest his visit to Melbourne at a 5pm rally outside Flinders Street Station.