Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps Violent Clashes at Israeli President's Bondi Visit
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Feb 12, 2026 Tense protests and large-scale clashes in Sydney over a presidential visit. New post-Bondi police powers and legal challenges shaped crowd control. Debates around protest tactics, slogans that stoke historic fears, and how media frames competing narratives. Questions raised about free speech limits, policing militarisation, and why certain international visitors attract intense demonstrations.
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Mourning Event Beset By Large Protest
- Josh Szeps recounts thousands gathering for Jewish mourning at the ICC while rival protesters planned a large demonstration elsewhere in the CBD.
- The Palestine Action Group defied police directions to assemble in Hyde Park and instead converged near Town Hall, creating a volatile crowd of around 6,000.
New Powers Shaped Policing Response
- New emergency powers expanded police authority: searches without usual probable cause and $5,500 fines for disobeying directions.
- Josh argues these post-Bondi laws enabled a heavy-handed policing response that shaped the night's dynamics.
Clashes Escalated Near Police Lines
- Josh describes clashes where agitators pushed police lines, leading to tear gas, pepper spray and arrests.
- Police held the line, arrested 27 people and charged 10 with allegedly assaulting officers.