Sydney saw large protests on Monday evening. People were angry about the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Pro-Palestinian groups organized the demonstrations. Police made several arrests. Some people said the police used too much force. The Police Commissioner defended the officers' actions.
The protests happened near Sydney's Town Hall. Thousands of people came to show they were against the visit. The government invited President Herzog. They said it was to help the Jewish community heal. This was after a violent attack on December 14th. Gunmen shot at a Hanukkah event. Sadly, some people died.
However, protest organizers disagreed with the visit. They felt their right to protest was limited. Videos from the protest showed disagreements. Police were seen taking people away. Some protesters were hit. Others were sprayed with pepper spray. Josh Lees from Palestine Action Group said it was very strong police action. He thought the clashes could have been avoided.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon disagreed. He said his officers showed "remarkable restraint." He stated they acted correctly to manage the situation. Ten officers were hurt. Police arrested 27 people. Nine of them now face charges.
However, there is disagreement about how many people were at the protest. Police said about 6,000 people came. Organizers said up to 50,000 people were there. Protest organizers also tried to challenge police powers in court. They did not succeed. This has led to questions about how police handle protests. It is important to balance public order and the right to protest.