Labor group urges Albanese to rescind Herzog invitation

Rank-and-file Labor members have asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to withdraw an invitation to Israeli president Isaac Herzog over Israel's military actions in Gaza; legal experts say prosecution is unlikely because Herzog is a sitting head of state with immunity and there is no ICC arrest warrant for him.

Labor party members and allied groups have called on the Albanese government to rescind an invitation for Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, to visit Australia, citing outrage over the Gaza bombardment and concern about community tensions. The request has exposed divisions within the Labor movement and differing views among Jewish and Palestinian community groups. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requested the governor-general to invite Herzog on 24 December, and Herzog has accepted; the visit is expected in early 2026. International law experts have responded to calls for legal action with caution, noting limits under international law. Key points: - Labor Friends of Palestine urged the government to cancel Herzog's invitation and said federal police should investigate him if he visits. - A group of smaller Jewish organisations also asked the prime minister to retract the invitation, while other mainstream Jewish groups welcomed the visit as support for Bondi victims and bilateral ties. - Legal scholars said a sitting head of state has immunity from prosecution in Australia and noted there is no publicly announced ICC arrest warrant for Herzog, making domestic legal action unlikely. - Albanese requested the governor-general formally invite Herzog on 24 December, Herzog accepted, and a visit is planned for early 2026. Summary: The request to rescind the invitation has highlighted divisions within the Labor party and among community organisations. Legal experts say Australia is unlikely to pursue prosecution because of head-of-state immunity and the absence of an ICC warrant; the planned visit in early 2026 remains the next scheduled development.