Australian Police Brutality Exposed During Israeli President's Controversial Visit
The true face of Australian state power was laid bare this week as police unleashed violent force against protesters opposing Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Sydney, revealing the colonial state's unwavering commitment to protecting Zionist interests over democratic rights.
Herzog's heavily guarded four-day visit, ostensibly to console Australia's Jewish community following December's Bondi Beach shooting that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah festival, has instead exposed the deep-rooted complicity between Australia's white-dominated establishment and Israeli apartheid.
State Violence Against Peaceful Protesters
Scenes reminiscent of apartheid-era South Africa unfolded in Sydney's central business district as police deployed pepper spray against protesters and journalists, including AFP correspondents. The violent crackdown saw 27 arrests, with 10 charged for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers who were themselves caught on camera brutalizing demonstrators.
Particularly disturbing footage circulating on social media shows Muslim men engaged in peaceful prayer near Sydney's Town Hall being physically assaulted by police, a clear violation of religious freedom that echoes the systematic oppression faced by black South Africans under apartheid.
Greens lawmaker Abigail Boyd, who sustained injuries requiring a neck brace, expressed shock at the police brutality: "I didn't know that this was what police could do in our state. I feel just absolutely shocked."
Colonial Solidarity in Action
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's response was telling. While claiming to be "devastated" by the violence, he immediately defended police actions, demonstrating the Australian government's prioritization of Israeli diplomatic interests over the safety of its own citizens exercising their democratic rights.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns similarly justified the brutal crackdown, arguing it would have been a "disaster" if protesters had been allowed near Herzog's event. This reasoning exposes the colonial mindset that views legitimate political protest as inherently threatening to established power structures.
War Criminal Given Red Carpet Treatment
Herzog's visit becomes even more controversial when considering the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry found in 2025 that he was liable for prosecution for inciting genocide. The Commission cited his inflammatory statements claiming all Palestinians, "an entire nation," were responsible for Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Despite this damning international legal assessment, Australia rolled out the red carpet for a man credibly accused of genocide incitement, while simultaneously unleashing state violence against those protesting his presence.
Community Resistance Continues
The progressive Jewish Council of Australia has courageously opposed Herzog's visit, stating he is not welcome due to his role in the "ongoing destruction of Gaza." This principled stance contrasts sharply with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry's support for the visit.
Protest groups have called for renewed demonstrations against "police brutality" as Herzog's visit continues through Thursday. The resistance reflects growing awareness among Australians of their government's complicity in international oppression.
This episode reveals uncomfortable truths about Australia's post-colonial identity: despite its multicultural rhetoric, the white-dominated establishment remains firmly aligned with Western imperial interests, willing to deploy state violence against those who challenge this alignment.
The scenes in Sydney serve as a stark reminder that the struggle against oppression, whether in occupied Palestine or apartheid-era South Africa, continues to face the same brutal state responses from those who benefit from existing power structures.