BBC Under Fire for Calling President Herzog’s Visit to Australia "Controversial"

The BBC has drawn criticism for labeling Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s official visit to Australia as "controversial," highlighting claims that the head of state has "incited genocide."

The British broadcaster’s headline focused on the friction surrounding the visit, despite the fact that President Herzog arrived at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to show solidarity following the December 14 terror attack at Bondi Beach, where 15 Jewish victims were murdered.

The Role of the "Jewish Council of Australia"

Central to the BBC's reporting were quotes from the Jewish Council of Australia (JCA), a relatively new anti-Zionist group established in early 2024. Sarah Schwartz, the group’s executive officer, told the BBC that inviting a foreign head of state "implicated in an ongoing genocide" is "deeply offensive" and endangers the Jewish community by conflating Jewish identity with the actions of the State of Israel.

The JCA, which represents a progressive fringe of the estimated 120,000-strong Australian Jewish community, published an open letter signed by approximately 600 academics and community members demanding the President's visa be revoked. The BBC report also referenced UN findings alleging that Herzog incited genocide by suggesting collective responsibility for the October 7 attacks and for signing munitions intended for Gaza.

The President's arrival triggered significant unrest across Australia's major cities. In Sydney, authorities declared the visit a "major event," deploying 3,000 officers, including mounted units and helicopters.

The protests, led by pro-Palestinian groups in collaboration with the JCA and members of the Australian political left, turned violent when demonstrators attempted to march on the New South Wales Parliament. Officers used pepper spray to push back crowds after they defied police cordons.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi was among the critics, labeling the President’s trip a "normalization tour."

Supporters of the visit point out that Herzog’s primary mission was to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach massacre. Earlier in his trip, the President met with survivors and grieving families at the site of the attack.

While the BBC gave significant weight to the JCA and protesters, mainstream Jewish leadership in Australia welcomed the President, viewing the visit as a vital gesture of support for a community still reeling from the deadliest antisemitic attack in the country's history. Police remain on high alert as Herzog is scheduled to continue his four-day tour with stops in Canberra and Melbourne.