Herzog raises antisemitism, bilateral ties in Canberra

Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, parliamentary leaders and the opposition during an official visit to Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday.

Herzog and Albanese flew together from Sydney to Canberra, where Herzog received a ceremonial welcome at Government House before holding bilateral meetings and attending a state lunch.

In his opening remarks alongside Albanese, Herzog said the visit had been “very emotional”.

“When one Jew is hurt anywhere around the world, we in Israel ache and our hearts miss a beat. That is why it was so important to visit the community to express our condolences and strengthen the community,” he said.

“This is also an opportunity to bring the relations between our nations to a new beginning and a better future. I think the relations between us do not depend only on the issue of Israel and the Palestinians and the conflict but have a much broader base, and we should, together, make sure that they’re uplifted in new directions.”