A significant diplomatic controversy has emerged in Australia as Multiculturalism Minister Dr. Anne Aly, the Labor Party’s highest-ranking Muslim MP, repeatedly declined to express support for Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s upcoming state visit. The five-day official visit, scheduled to begin February 8, was extended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the December 14 Bondi Beach terrorist attack that targeted Israeli nationals.
During an interview with ABC Radio National on Thursday, Dr. Aly characterized the invitation as standard “protocol” for attacks involving foreign victims rather than offering personal endorsement. When pressed directly on whether she welcomed the visit, the minister deflected by reiterating the procedural nature of the invitation, stating it was intended “to commemorate and to remember the victims of the Bondi terror attack.”
The visit has sparked substantial opposition within Australia’s political landscape. Labor Friends of Palestine has formally requested Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke investigate whether President Herzog would pass the character test under the Migration Act, citing allegations from a United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner report that both Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have incited genocide in Gaza. Herzog has denied these claims, asserting his remarks were taken out of context.
Criticism extends beyond Labor ranks, with Independent MP Sophie Scamps warning that hosting a foreign leader accused of inciting genocide “risks deeply dividing the Australian community” and could heighten tensions following the Bondi attack. Meanwhile, the visit has received support from Jewish community organizations, including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, creating a complex diplomatic balancing act for the Albanese government as it attempts to maintain social cohesion amid heightened community tensions.