In a shocking development ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia, a 19-year-old from Sydney has been charged with issuing online death threats against the leader. Australian Federal Police arrested the young man on Wednesday following an investigation into a social media post that allegedly targeted Herzog directly.
The threat surfaced just days before Herzog’s scheduled five-day tour, invited by the Australian government in response to rising antisemitic incidents, including a recent terror attack at Bondi Beach. Federal Police’s newly formed National Security Investigations team flagged the menacing message on a social media platform back in January, prompting a swift probe.
Officers raided a Sydney residence, apprehending the suspect without incident. He now faces charges that could land him up to 10 years in prison for threatening a foreign head of state online. As Herzog’s arrival looms this Sunday, authorities are bracing for potential large-scale protests from pro-Palestinian groups, adding layers of tension to the visit.
The case has ignited fierce debate. Prominent human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti, a former UN commissioner on Palestinian territories, called for Herzog’s immediate arrest upon landing, accusing him of promoting genocide in Gaza—a claim echoed in a recent UN report. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong countered sharply, affirming that legal advice on international obligations cleared the invitation.
This incident underscores Australia’s delicate balancing act amid global Israel-Palestine tensions. Security measures are ramped up, and the nation watches closely as diplomacy meets domestic unrest. The teen’s court appearance will shed more light, but for now, it serves as a stark reminder of online threats’ real-world peril.