ISRAEL’S PRESIDENT TO MAKE EMOTIONAL VISIT TO AUSTRALIA AFTER BONDI TERROR ATTACK: Isaac Herzog Accepts PM’s Invitation as Community Reels from Shocking Gunman Attack
- Isaac Herzog to travel to Australia ‘in the near future’ after being invited by PM Anthony Albanese
- President Herzog expressed ‘profound shock and dismay’ over the Bondi terror attack that killed 15 people and injured many more
- He also urged Australia to take ‘all legal measures’ to combat the rising threat of antisemitism and jihadist terror
- The visit is seen as a significant step in healing relations between the two countries after a two-year decline
In a poignant development, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has announced that he will visit Australia in the wake of the devastating Bondi terror attack that left 15 people dead and many more injured. Herzog revealed on social media that he had accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had informed him that the Governor-General would be extending a formal invitation for the visit.
The President’s visit is expected to take place ‘in the near future’, although an exact date has not been confirmed. Herzog’s decision to travel to Australia comes after he expressed his ‘profound shock and dismay’ over the terror attack, which targeted the Jewish community in Sydney’s Bondi suburb. In a conversation with Albanese, Herzog conveyed his ‘heartfelt condolences’ to the families of the victims and his ‘prayers for a speedy recovery’ for those injured.
Herzog also took the opportunity to stress the importance of combating the rising threat of antisemitism, extremism, and jihadist terror. ‘I underscored the importance of taking all legal measures to combat the unprecedented rise in antisemitism, extremism, and jihadist terror,’ he said. The President’s comments are likely to resonate deeply with the Australian Jewish community, which is still reeling from the shock of the terror attack.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, welcomed the news of Herzog’s visit, saying it was a significant step in healing relations between the two countries. Ryvchin, who lost a close friend in the terror attack, said the visit was a testament to the enduring friendship between Israel and Australia. ‘Sometimes it takes a tragedy like this to bring people together, to give that sense of perspective,’ he said.
The visit is also expected to bring comfort to the families of those killed and injured in the terror attack. Twelve people remain in hospital, with five in critical but stable conditions. As the community continues to come to terms with the devastating attack, Herzog’s visit is seen as a powerful symbol of solidarity and support.