Israeli president ends a fraught Australia visit to comfort Jews as Gaza war protests follow

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is close to ending a four-day visit to Australia that brought comfort to Sydney’s Jewish community following a recent antisemitic mass shooting. Herzog visited Sydney, the national capital Canberra and Melbourne in the first Australian visit by an Israeli head of state in six years. He is due to leave Australia on Thursday. Herzog's visit has attracted large-scale demonstrations protesting the civilian toll of the Gaza war. He has been dogged by protesters who label him a war criminal. Herzog was invited to support a community reeling from an attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in December that left 15 people dead.