Australian news and politics live: Grace Tame leads ‘globalise the intifada’ chant at pro-Palestine protest

The ABC has defended its incoming Four Corners episode investigating the Bondi terror attack after ASIO said the program’s claims contain “significant errors of fact”.

In a three part statement, ASIO warned the ABC that if it chose to “publish claims it cannot substantiate” the agency would “reserve our right to take further action”.

The ABC have since defended the episode, which is due to air on February 9.

“The Four Corners program is a comprehensive investigation examining the events that led to the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil,” the public broadcaster said.

“Four Corners spoke to numerous people and provides a number of sources of information for a detailed picture of the Akrams’ actions and associations in the years leading up to the Bondi attack.

“Detailed questions were put to ASIO and its response is reflected in the story. The public will be able to watch the full investigation tonight.”

While standing at the site of Australia’s worst terror attack, Israeli President Isaac Herzog shared a message from the thousands who are reportedly preparing to protest his visit.

“It is important for me to say that I have come here in goodwill and in a message (to the) people of Australia - Australia and Israel are close friends and allies since the days of old,” he said from Bondi Beach.

“It was Australian soldiers who liberated the Holy Land as one of the greatest steps towards the creation of the homeland of the Jewish people.

“It was Australia who was the first nation to declare and recognise Israel at the United Nations, and Australia is a close ally for years and Israel was always a bipartisan issue in Australia.

“These demonstrations in most cases, what you hear and see, comes to undermine and delegitimise our right, my nation’s right, the nation which I am the head of state of - of its mere existence and it’s contradictory to whatever, ever said - was said and done by Australia.

“We did not seek that war October 7. Our nation was attacked terribly and people were butchered, murdered, raped and burnt and abducted.

“We have here, bereaved Israeli families who came from the Kibbutz, Kibbutz Nir Oz and came from the war in order to express their condolences here at Bondi, but also to make a clear statement and a message.

“We should all fight terror together. Terror is what undermines all the availability of peace and the notion of peace in our region. It was always the case and is always the case and, therefore, terror is unacceptable by any means.”

“This was also an attack on Australians,” Mr Herzog said.

“They attacked the values that our democracies treasure. The sanctity of human life, the freedom of religion, tolerance, dignity and respect.

“This is how terror operates all around the world, and sadly, Israel has faced deadly threat of terror for many, many years. In the face of this evil, we saw the very best of humanity.

“Suddenly, here, on Bondi, surfboards became trenches and stretchers as extraordinary, ordinary people ran into the danger and saved innocent lives.

“In the aftermath of the attack, the people of Australia stood together in grief and solidarity with the Jewish community.

“The world’s only Jewish state - the state of Israel and the nation of Israel - stood together with the Australian people. We stood with Australian Jews for we are one big family and when one Jew is hurt, all Jews feel their pain.”

Mr Herzog has spoken from the site of the Bondi Beach terror attack, speaking about multiple victims, including young Matilda and Alex Kleytman, who survived the Holocaust.

“This very beach, beloved by the Australian people, and symbolic of all that’s great about this beautiful nation, became the scene of the deadliest terror attack in Australia’s history,” Mr Herzog said.

“(Here), 15 innocent souls who gathered to celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Light, were massacred in cold blood Islamic terrorists.

“The youngest victim - sweet Matilda, was just 10 years’ old.

“The 87-year-old Alex Kleytman who survived extermination of six million Jews in the Holocaust only to murdered for being a Jew on the beaches of Sydney, Australia.

“These vile terrorists specifically and deliberately targetted our sisters and brothers - Australian Jews.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has laid two stones from Jerusalem at the site of the Bondi Beach terror attack, vowing that together “we shall overcome this evil”, terror, together.

“Just now, I laid two stones here at Bondi Beach that are from the Holy City of Jerusalem from the land of Israel,” he said at Bondi Beach.

“In Jewish tradition, we place stones on graves to represent the endurance of memory, the weight of loss, and the unbreakable bond between the living and those we have lost.

“These stones from Jerusalem, the Eternal City, the Eternal Capital of Israel, will remain here at Bondi for eternity, a sacred memory of the victims and as a reminder that (bond) between good people of all faiths and all nations will continue to hold strong in the face of terror, violence and hatred, and that we shall overcome this evil together.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, First Lady Michal Herzog and NSW Premier Chris Minns have met at Bondi Beach to lay wreaths for the victims of the anti-Semitic Bondi Beach terror attack.

The visit to the site, nearly two months after the horrific attack, was made to pay tribute to the victims of the attack.

They were joined by Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh.

After laying wreaths, Mr Herzog and Mr Minns met the families of Bondi Beach victims.

Sniper guns and specialist gunmen have been spotted in the Sydney CBD as Israeli President Isaac Herzog visits.

An image was posted on X of a rooftop in the Sydney CBD, showing four people and four snipers.

NSW Police have confirmed an assessment of a suspicious item located at Bondi Beach has taken place.

“A specialist search was conducted at Bondi earlier today,” a NSW Police spokesperson said on Monday.

“During the search, officers located an item.

“It has been assessed and is of no concern.”

The item was located amid a very tense Monday in Sydney. The Israeli President’s arrival has sparked a major security operation, and with protests planned, city workers have been encouraged to stay at home.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has taken aim at protest organisers, saying they had been given permission to rally in Hyde Park in the middle of the city.

Police orders have denied participants protection from certain charges, but protesters are expected to defy them when they march on Town Hall at 5.30pm, before continuing on to NSW Parliament on Macquarie St.

“It’s also completely unfair and untrue to say the police and the Government have not facilitated a protest. We have,” Mr Minns told reporters on Monday morning.

“For the protest organiser to say that Hyde Park is out of sight, I think, is completely wilful in the circumstances.

“That’s obviously the park in the middle of Sydney, CBD, and that’s what police have offered, both today and for the last 100 weekends of protests in the middle of Sydney.

“It’s been good enough in the past. It’s their decision whether they want to take it or not, but I don’t think they can bend the facts to their will in court.”

Specialist police in Bondi have swooped on a suspicious item found near the Bondi Pavilion.

Although details about Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s movements have not been made public in advance, it is expected that he may visit the site of the 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack during his five-day visit.

On Monday, a metal item was seen being inspected and removed by police.

NSW Police have been contacted for statement.