Published: 9 February 2026
Last updated: 10 February 2026
This is the full text of the speech by President Isaac Herzog to Sydney's Jewish community, delivered this evening.
Dear sisters and brothers, we are here to say to you: Am Yisrael Chai! No one will deter us!
This morning, soon after my wife Michal and I landed in Sydney, we went directly to Bondi Beach. At the memorial site, we placed two stones from Jerusalem, and stood in silence, thinking of the lives that were taken. We thought of Rabbi Eli, of Matilda, Boris and Sofia, Edith, Reuven, Tania, Marika, Rabbi Yaakov, Adam, Tibor, Peter, Boris, Dan, Alexander.
15 innocent lives, Jewish and non-Jewish, gunned down by cruelty, by hate, by evil, by extremism. Dozens more were wounded, as the Australian people, and the Jewish people worldwide, were left with trauma. The physical and emotional scars from December 14th, will forever be a part of our two nations. May the Almighty comfort you amongst the Mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
We have come to declare: you are not alone! We have come to be with you, just as you have always shown up for us!
Dear friends, I am honored to join this beautiful community—which includes bereaved families of Bondi, accompanied by bereaved families of Israel. We have longed to see you and to grieve with you, and we come bearing the prayers of your Israeli family.
Thank you Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, for your warm introduction and for your solid leadership and integrity. Your Excellency, Governor of New South Wales- Margaret Beazley and the Honorable Premier Chris Minns—true friends of this community; The Honourable Scott Morrison, former Prime Minister of Australia; The Honourable Ron Hoenig MP, Minister for Local Government; Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon- a fine public servant of Israel, who is concluding his diplomatic assignment in Australia and I thank him for his service; Chairman of the World Zionist Organization- my friend Yaakov Hagoel; Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel my friend Doron Almog; Chair of the Fund for Victims of Terror and J-Ready- Former MK Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies- David Ossip; President of the NSW UIA and co-host of this evening- Gary Pearlstone; Leaders, volunteers, public servants, all people of goodwill.
Comments3
Dan12 February at 07:30 am
It looks like the moderators didn’t like my comment. So let me rephrase it:
In addition to signing bombs and designating all Gazans as legitimate targets, Herzog also believe that intermarriage between Jews and non-Jews is a “plague” that needs a “solution”
https://mondoweiss.net/2018/07/herzog-apologize-intermarriage/
Opposing intermarriage is a common theme among all racial supremacist ideologies including in the Jim-Crow era American South and apartheid South Africa and is especially common in the institutionally racist state of “Israel.”
In “Israel” Herzog is perversely considered something of a leftist which is kinda hilarious if it wasn’t so sad. It just shows how much of a fascist far-right society “Israel” really is.
It is therefore disappointing (although not at all surprising) that the Australian Jewish community would embrace Herzog as a leader.
Having been previously involved in the Jewish community in my youth, I unfortunately fully expect Australian Jews to agree with Herzog’s vile views on the slaughter of Palestinians. But I would’ve hoped that his hideous views on intermarriage would have been a step too far for many in the community. Sadly it appears they are not. Like I said it’s disappointing but not at all surprising.
Cera Newhouse12 February at 06:27 am
Thank you and your lovely wife for coming to be with the families who’s life have been shattered .
Its wonderful that we are so far away in distance but yet so close Am Israel Chai
Brian O’Connell10 February at 03:50 am
Thank you President Herzog. Your speeches since you arrived have brought hope and a sense of optimism and purpose to the strengthening of the firm relationship between our countries. You are a great representative of the people of Israel and its diaspora.
With kind regards
Sincerely