SYDNEY — A prominent pro-Palestinian organisation has signaled it will press ahead with plans for a mass march in Sydney to oppose the upcoming visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, even as New South Wales police have extended controversial protest restrictions in the state’s capital. The decision by authorities to curb assemblies has sparked legal challenges and intensified debate over civil liberties, public safety and the right to protest.
Protest Restrictions Extended Ahead of Visit
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon announced this week that restrictions on protests in parts of central Sydney and the Eastern Suburbs will remain in force for another 14 days, citing community safety concerns linked to recent unrest and the high-profile visit by Mr Herzog. The restrictions, introduced after the December 2025 Bondi terror attack that killed 15 people, effectively prevent formal demonstration approvals — known as “Form 1” permits — within much of the central business district.
Under current rules, protests can still occur in designated areas such as Hyde Park, but moving marches and rallies through major thoroughfares are effectively barred. Authorities have said the measures are calibrated to avoid clashes and ensure both public security and protection for communities including Sydney’s Jewish population. Commissioner Lanyon has described the decision as a necessary balance between free speech and safety.
Organisers Signal Defiance
Despite the police restrictions, the Palestine Action Group (PAG) has declared it will proceed with a march on 9 February, the second day of Mr Herzog’s Australian visit, beginning at Town Hall and culminating at the New South Wales Parliament. PAG spokesperson Josh Lees has called on police to “exercise their discretion” and facilitate a peaceful march, urging supporters to gather in “huge numbers” to exercise what organisers describe as their democratic rights.
In social media posts and statements to the press, activists have framed the march as part of a national day of protest against the Israeli president’s itinerary, which includes engagements with political leaders and community groups in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. Some online posts from associated groups have gone further, calling on Australian authorities to arrest Mr Herzog upon arrival over allegations related to his conduct during Israel’s military operations — claims that the Israeli government and many in Australia’s Jewish community vehemently reject.
Legal and Political Backdrop
The protest laws now being invoked were fast-tracked through the NSW Parliament in the wake of the Bondi attack and grant police greater authority to restrict public assemblies in defined areas for up to three months. Critics, including civil liberties advocates and some Labor politicians, argue the measures are overly broad and potentially unconstitutional. A legal challenge to the laws is scheduled for hearing in the NSW Supreme Court later in February.
Labor MP Stephen Lawrence has suggested the laws could “compromise civil liberties” and risk inflaming — rather than calming — tensions. Others, including NSW Premier Chris Minns, have defended the approach as proportional given the security climate, though he has denied direct influence over police decisions.
Nationwide Protests and Wider Context
The planned Sydney march is only part of a broader wave of protests expected across Australia during Mr Herzog’s four-day visit. Demonstrations have been mooted in major cities including Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, and previous rallies in Sydney have drawn hundreds of participants demanding sanctions on Israel and expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
The visit itself has been contentious. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited Mr Herzog following the Bondi incident as a gesture of support for Jewish Australians, but the decision has drawn criticism from some federal MPs and pro-Palestine advocates, who argue the visit risks exacerbating societal divisions. Calls to rescind the invitation have been echoed by the Greens, independent MPs and internal Labor figures concerned about community cohesion.
Security Preparations and Public Reaction
Police have indicated they will deploy thousands of officers to manage security during the visit, stressing that no specific threats have been identified but that “significant animosity” surrounds the protests. Authorities have said they will aim to separate demonstrators from official events and ensure safety for all participants, including community groups and visiting dignitaries.
Public reaction remains deeply divided. Supporters of the Palestine Action Group and allied movements see the march as a vital expression of dissent against perceived injustices in international affairs, while critics warn that defiance of protest restrictions could inflame tensions and provoke law enforcement responses.
What’s Next
As the February 9 march looms, organisers and authorities are bracing for a high-stakes confrontation over civil liberties, protest rights and public safety. The outcome of the constitutional challenge to the protest laws, and how police choose to respond on the ground, will likely set precedents for civic action and state power in NSW for months to come.
Overall, the unfolding protest dynamics encapsulate broader debates in Australia over freedom of assembly, national security and political expression at a time of heightened tension.
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