NSW Police make rare public plea ahead of Israel President Isaac Herzog’s visit, as protesters fight ban

Palestinian Action Group protest organisers have launched a legal challenge to restrictions imposed ahead of a state visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The move comes after the New South Wales Government invoked special powers ahead of the visit under the state’s major events legislation. Under the powers announced on Saturday, Premier Chris Minns said police would have the power to “move on” anyone acting in a disorderly way and called for calm in Sydney. “We reiterate our call that if you don’t need to be in Sydney’s CBD on Monday afternoon, unless it’s absolutely essential, we ask that you not stick around in that area,” he said. But protest organisers filed a urgent court motion on the NSW Supreme Court on Sunday afternoon, seeking the major events declaration be deemed “invalid and of no legal effect”. Lawyers for the group are also considering arguing the powers were imposed for an “improper purpose”. Despite opposition from the Crown solicitors’ office, the matter has been set down for an urgent hearing on Monday at 10am before Justice Robertson Wright. Protest organisers are planning for a rally at Sydney’s Town Hall at 5.30pm followed by a march to Parliament House. The move comes after NSW Police took the rare step of publicly pleading with protest organisers who plan to rally in Sydney to oppose Mr Herzog’s visit. Mr Herzog will depart Israel on Sunday for a four-day state visit to Australia, where he will meet with Anthony Albanese, Jewish leaders, and victims and their families of the Bondi Beach terror attack. The President was invited by Mr Albanese in the days after the December 14 attack, in a move that was widely welcomed by the Jewish community. As many as 5000 people are expected to march on Town Hall in Sydney’s CBD in defiance of protest restrictions. On Sunday, Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said that while he was confident there would not be a “showdown” between protesters and police, his “phone remained on” and he hoped organisers would continue negotiating with police and relocate the event. “We would love the group to relocate to Hyde Park so they can travel to Belmore Park to safely facilitate a peaceful protest on the streets of Sydney,” he said. “I do have concerns about the size of Town Hall, the possibility of overflow into public areas which could lead to conflict between police and protesters. “So, for that reason, among many, I would ask them to consider relocating and to continue negotiating with us.” Mr Dunstan noted repeatedly that Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees, who has been at the forefront of police negotiations over pro-Palestine protests for more than two years, had gone to “great efforts to outline an intent and desire for a peaceful and safe protest”. “Which is exactly the same as what we require from the group,” Mr Dunstan said. Mr Dunstan said he was “hopeful” the protest would not “go mobile”, but that Mr Lees had not committed to this. Palestine Action Group organiser Joshua Lees said the “unprecedented” powers were an “attempt to shut down dissent”. “These powers threaten the civil liberties of everyone in NSW,” he said in a statement. Mr Lees claimed the laws were “designed to intimidate and deter people”. “We are being targeted because we are protesting the visit of as political leader who has publicly supported and defended mass killing, siege, and displacement in Gaza,” he said. A number of groups, activists, and public figures, as well as NSW Labor MPs, are expected to take part in Monday’s protest. Labor leaders call for calm Treasurer Jim Chalmers earlier called for calm ahead of Mr Herzog’s “contentious” visit to Australia. However, Mr Herzog will be met with protests in Sydney on Monday as pro-Palestine groups, human rights organisations, and even some Labor members rally in opposition to the visit and to call for Mr Herzog’s potential arrest. Speaking on ABC on Sunday, Mr Chalmers urged for calm ahead of the protest. “I understand that this visit is contentious and it will invite a range of views and some of those views will be strongly held,” he said. “But, this is about grieving with the families and loved ones of the souls that were thieved on Bondi Beach. “So I hope any protests that take place are peaceful and lawful when he’s here in Australia.” Speaking earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Mr Herzog’s visit was “enormously significant” for Australia’s Jewish population in the aftermath of the Bondi attack. “In terms of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Israel, but clearly in the aftermath of the Bondi massacre, this is a hugely significant visit for the nation,” he told Sky’s Sunday Agenda. NSW Premier Chris Minns took the extraordinary step on Saturday of granting police extra powers. The “major event” deceleration will allow police to put measures in place to manage crowd safety, maintain separation between different groups, and reduce the risk of confrontation. It is the first time such a measure has been used during the visit of a foreign dignitary. Mr Minns earlier warned the state government was “not mucking around” and that there would “be a genuine and huge overwhelming police presence in the city on Monday night” when protests are planned. The Labor leader has repeatedly called for “common sense”, but warned protesters could expect to be arrested. The Palestine Action Group has vowed to defy temporary restrictions put on protests in certain areas of Sydney under laws rushed through following the Bondi attack with a demonstration at Town Hall on Monday. The measures do not strictly ban protests, but refuse organisers the ability to apply for certain protections, including from move-on or traffic obstruction charges. Police are expected to address the media later in regard to the measures. Mr Albanese, for his part, has repeatedly cited the significance of Mr Herzog's visit, on Saturday stating he hoped “people are respectful of the fact that this is a difficult time for families, particularly in the Bondi community”.