Albanese defends Isaac Herzog’s Australia visit as federal MP joins calls to rescind invitation

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is defending the government's invitation to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to visit Australia in February. The visit is facing opposition from some federal MPs, including Independent Sophie Scamps, who are joining Labor's Friends of Palestine group and Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi in calling for the invitation to be rescinded. Their objections stem from the civilian death toll in Gaza resulting from Israel's ongoing war. Herzog's visit will prompt a significant security response in Sydney and is expected to be met with nationwide protests from pro-Palestinian groups. The protests are planned in response to the conflict and its impact on Palestinian civilians.