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.”

Albanese thanked Herzog for the comfort and solidarity he had provided to the families of the 15 Australians killed in the December 14 Bondi Beach terror attack, as well as to the broader Jewish Australian community.

“It’s also been an opportunity for us to engage on issues, and I look forward to having a good discussion about the Middle East,” Albanese said.

“We in Australia want to see Israelis and Palestinians side by side in peace and security as we go forward.”

Albanese also publicly thanked first lady Michal Herzog, saying he had witnessed firsthand the comfort she gave members of the Chabad community at Bondi the previous evening.

According to a joint readout issued by the President’s office, the two leaders discussed combating antisemitism, bilateral relations, international efforts to bring about peace and security in Israel, Gaza and the Middle East, humanitarian efforts for the Palestinian people, and the global threats posed by the Iranian regime.

Herzog concluded his remarks by expressing support for talks between United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who were meeting at the White House the same day.

“I will conclude by wishing success to President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who are meeting today at the White House to discuss very important international and regional and Israeli matters, which means the Iranian-American negotiations, in bringing peace and undermining that empire of evil emanating from Tehran,” Herzog said.

“And also discussing the next phase in Gaza, which is important to all of us, and I hope will bring a better future for all of us.”

Albanese also noted that Australia had expelled the Iranian ambassador following direct evidence of the involvement of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in attacks on Australian soil — the first such expulsion since World War Two.

During question time in the House of Representatives, Warringah independent MP Zali Steggall asked Albanese whether he had raised with Herzog the case of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, who was mistakenly killed in Gaza nearly two years ago in an Israeli air strike, along with six World Central Kitchen colleagues.

Former chief of the Australian Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, appointed by the government as special advisor to investigate the strike, found in August, 2024 that Israel had “taken full accountability” for the incident and that the strike “was not knowingly or deliberately directed against the WCK.”

Binskin assessed Israel’s response as “timely, appropriate and, with some exceptions, sufficient” and noted it was in line with the processes of western militaries including the Australian Defence Force.

Answering Steggall’s question, Albanese confirmed he had raised the matter directly with Herzog that morning.

“These deaths were a tragedy and an outrage. We said that at the time and we’ve made it clear that that remains the Australian government’s position,” he said.

“We’ve also made clear our expectation that there be transparency about Israel’s ongoing investigation into the incident. We continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges.”

Albanese noted that Australia and its partners had launched the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel at the United Nations the previous year, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, with more than 100 nations signing on.

“I must say the Israeli president has said that he will engage and come back to the Australian government about the issues that we have raised,” Albanese said.

At Government House, Governor-General Mostyn welcomed Herzog and first lady Michal Herzog with a ceremonial reception before hosting a state lunch.

“It’s terribly important that your visit is one that stands with those who are still grieving, those that want to know that they are safe, and this visit has been very important to them,” Mostyn said.

Herzog told the Governor-General he hoped the visit would “serve as a big message for both nations and both peoples”, and noted the long history between the two countries.

“Israel and Australia go back with a long history,” he said.

Herzog also met with House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick and Opposition leader Sussan Ley, along with her parliamentary colleagues, where he emphasised the importance of combating antisemitism in Australia and around the world and discussed opportunities to further strengthen ties between the two nations.

The day concluded with a ceremonial olive tree planting at the Israeli Embassy, marking exactly 40 years since Herzog’s late parents, former Israeli president Chaim Herzog and Aura Herzog, had performed the same gesture during their own historic state visit to Australia.