The president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, has given his approval to an invitation extended by the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, to make an official visit to Australia, with no date yet set, after the attack last week against a Jewish holiday on a beach in Sydney, which left 15 dead and more than 40 injured.
Albanese conveyed this invitation during a telephone conversation held in the last few hours, in which the head of the Australian Government once again condemned the attack on Bondi beach and again expressed his condolences to the relatives of the fatal victims and the injured.
During the call, Herzog also expressed his “deep horror” at the “catastrophic terrorist attack” and stressed “the importance of adopting all legal measures to combat the unprecedented increase in anti-Semitism, extremism and jihadist terrorism,” according to a statement released by the Israeli Presidency.
In that same note, Herzog’s office announced that the president will formally accept the invitation that will be sent to him by the Australian authorities, with the intention of arranging a visit “as soon as possible.” The Israeli president also indicated that the president of the Zionist Federation of Australia has sent him a letter in which he conveys his desire for him to travel to the country for an official visit.
Bondi Beach was partly hosting a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah at the time of the attack, carried out by two attackers – a father, who died, and his 24-year-old son, who was arrested. According to attendees, around 2,000 people had gathered in the area to participate in this event.
