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Outside the gates of Government House in Melbourne this morning, a small standoff unfolded between heavily armed police and a group of about 25 protesters, who heckled from the side of the road as Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived.
Herzog touched down in Melbourne this morning – the final stop in his controversial four-day visit to Australia.
He was whisked past protesters in a motorcade straight from the airport about midday, and inside the gates of government house, where he is meeting governor Margaret Gardner and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan for lunch before attending a Jewish community event this afternoon.
The gardens around government house were mostly quiet on Thursday morning ahead of his arrival – gardeners tended flowerbeds and cycling groups rolled by the road leading up to the gates even as police began to gather.
The odd drone flew overhead, but there were no signs of police snipers on surrounding rooftops – or in trees.
Then about 11am, protesters emerged from the surrounding gardens, some dressed as police, others in black face coverings.
“We are ready to serve and protect war criminals,” shouted a small contingent clad in spoof police uniforms as they imitated the sudden swarm of police officers marching down to clear them back into the gardens.
Police formed a line to secure the road without incident. But as sirens sounded the arrival of Herzog’s motorcade, more protesters arrived, carrying banners and chanting “Herzog you can’t hide, you’re committing genocide” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”
Earlier, former Victorian premier John Brumby slipped through the gates of Government House on foot as a long line of cars with dark tinted windows were ushered inside.
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