Israeli President Isaac Herzog has agreed to visit Australia following the terror attack on the Australian Jewish community in Sydney on 14 December.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he'd spoken with Herzog on Tuesday to express his "profound shock and dismay" over the attack on a Hanukkah event at Bondi, which left 15 people dead.
"Upon the recommendation of the Australian government, the governor-general of Australia will issue an invitation in accordance with protocol to President Herzog to visit Australia as soon as possible," Albanese wrote on X.
In a statement sent out on Tuesday, the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) said its president, Jeremy Leibler, first wrote to the Israeli president, inviting him to come to Australia to stand with the grieving nation and shattered Jewish community.
"In the days after Bondi, our community reached out directly to President Herzog because this was not only an attack on individuals — it struck at the deepest sense of safety Jewish Australians have carried for generations," Leibler said.
"We are grateful that the Australian government has now taken up that call and, in accordance with protocol, will extend the formal invitation for a state visit," Leibler said.
"That matters — because it shows, at the highest national level, that Australia stands with its Jewish citizens, and Australia stands with Israel, against terrorism and hatred."
In a statement confirming the visit, Herzog also expressed "profound shock and dismay over the catastrophic terror attack against the Australian Jewish community in Sydney last week".
"I conveyed my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and my prayers for a speedy recovery for all those injured," he wrote on X.
Herzog also said the attack underscored the need to take "all legal measures to combat the unprecedented rise in antisemitism, extremism, and jihadist terror".
The ZFA characterised Herzog's visit as a significant moment for the Australian Jewish community, with Leibler saying it would be an important moment of solidarity and healing.
"President Herzog's presence will bring comfort to those who are grieving and reassurance to a community living with fear," he said.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said the upcoming visit would "bring tremendous comfort to the families and will lift the spirits of those still in hospital".
"We look forward to welcoming him and hopefully a reset of the bilateral relationship," Ryvchin posted on X.
Security has been tightened around Jewish sites across Australia since the attack, as authorities respond to heightened concerns over community safety.
Details of Herzog's visit are expected to be confirmed in the coming days. The ZFA said it would occur "early in the new year".
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