As controversy surrounds the visit of Israel’s president, Frank Brennan reflects on how Australians might respond with moral seriousness, legal clarity and a commitment to justice for all.

In today’s gospel from Matthew following upon the Beatitudes, Jesus encourages us to be the salt of the earth and the light to the world. Living the spirit of the Beatitudes we can be a blessing for all. As scripture scholar Brendan Byrne says: ‘People who are prepared to live in the vulnerable, nongrasping way pronounced “blessed” in the Beatitudes are the ones who can really humanise the world, providing a “beachhead” of the kingdom in anticipation of its full arrival’.

The images of salt and light are so readily comprehensible. We keep salt unsullied and add it to diverse foods according to taste. A little salt can make all the difference. A light in the darkness is a welcome thing for all who are trying to find their way. We are commissioned to go into the world making a difference – as salt and as light.

How to make that difference in our bitterly divided society at this time? How to humanise our world?

Isaac Herzog, President of Israel, has touched down in Australia on a state visit. Prime Minister Albanese had spoken to Mr Herzog nine days after the Bondi massacre and proposed the state visit ‘to honour and remember victims of the Bondi antisemitic terrorist attack and provide support for Jewish Australians and the Australian Jewish community at this time’.

If only it were that simple.

In the 2024 case brought by South Africa in the International Court of Justice alleging genocide by the state of Israel in Gaza, the court heard that the crisis in Gaza was being ‘compounded by dehumanising language’. The court took ‘note of a number of statements made by senior Israeli officials’. It called attention to three examples of incendiary remarks made about Palestinians living in Gaza in the days immediately following the appalling Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 – two by ministers in the Netanyahu Government and this one by President Herzog five days after the attack:

“We are working, operating militarily according to rules of international law. Unequivocally. It is an entire nation out there that is responsible. It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved. It is absolutely not true. They could have risen up. They could have fought against that evil regime which took over Gaza in a coup d’état. But we are at war. We are at war. We are at war. We are defending our homes. We are protecting our homes. That’s the truth. And when a nation protects its home, it fights. And we will fight until we’ll break their backbone.”

In light of these uncontested statements, the Court took the view that ‘the facts and circumstances’ were sufficient to conclude that at least some of the rights claimed by South Africa and for which it was seeking protection were plausible. The court said this was ‘the case with respect to the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide’.

The respected Hilary Charlesworth, the Australian judge on the court, joined the judgment of the court. Though Justice Aaron Barak, the Israeli judge sitting on the case, dissented on most orders of the court, he joined with 15 other judges on the court ordering: ‘The State of Israel shall take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip’.

It’s no wonder that many Australians have reservations about President Herzog’s visit while the proceedings in the International Court of Justice are ongoing. Personally, I think it was a mistake to invite him at this time. Be that as it may, he is here. How do we act as the salt of the earth and the light of the world in the week ahead while controversy rages about this state visit?

First we must be attentive to President Herzog’s response to the ICJ’s use of his words five days after the Hamas attack. Within a few days of the ICJ decision, President Herzog said that his remarks had been taken out of context – a collation of quotes taken from a much longer press briefing he had given on 12 October 2023. He pointed out that at the same press briefing he had said: “Israel abides by international law, operates by international law. Every operation is secured and covered and reviewed legally. There is no excuse to murdering innocent civilians in any way in any context. And believe me, Israel will operate and always operate according to the international rules. And we do the same in this battle, too.”

After the ICJ decision, President Herzog, reflecting on his initial press briefing after the Hamas attack, insisted: “I added and emphasised that for the State of Israel, and of course for me personally, innocent civilians are not considered targets in any way whatsoever. There are also innocent Palestinians in Gaza. I am deeply sorry for the tragedy they are going through. From the first day of the war right until today, I have called and worked for humanitarian aid for them — and only for them. This is part of our values as a country.”

It behoves us to be attentive to everything that was said by President Herzog immediately after the Hamas attack and then to consider his interpretation of his remarks in the wake of the ICJ decision.

President Herzog’s visit to Australia could be an opportunity not only ‘to honour and remember victims of the Bondi antisemitic terrorist attack and provide support for Jewish Australians and the Australian Jewish community at this time’. It could also be an opportunity for President Herzog to make clear his concern for innocent Palestinians in Gaza. Australia is an ideal place for the Israeli president to provide such a clarification given that we are a nation with a proud Jewish heritage since the arrival of the First Fleet and with peace loving Palestinians who have made their home here, maintaining and handing on the hope that one day there will be a secure homeland for their relatives back in the Middle East. Aware of the complexities confronting President Herzog, we can provide the secure and respectful space for him to give an account of how we can all work together for peace.

No matter what our heritage, we Australians can take this opportunity to display to President Herzog the truth of our Prime Minister’s declaration on Australia Day this year:

“Overwhelmingly, people have come here to make a better life for themselves and their families. The Australian covenant is that if you have any hatred or prejudice, you leave it in the customs hall. And people here need to show respect for each other.”

As we continue to mourn the death of hundreds of innocent persons in Israel on 7 October 2023, of thousands of innocent persons in Gaza since then, and of 15 persons at Bondi on 14 December 2025, let’s put aside any hatreds and prejudices while treasuring our heritages and aspirations, showing respect for each other, being committed to justice and peace for all. I share Damien Freeman’s hope that “Citizens who choose to tolerate those with whom they disagree can live in a society that is both multicultural and socially cohesive.”

In this complex week ahead, let’s try to be that dash of salt or beam of light that could make all the difference in humanising our meetings on this land, whether between our heads of state or between Jew and Gentile on the beach and in the street.

Republished from CatholicOutlook on 8 February 2026