Controversy surrounds Tarrant and Herzog visits

Brenton Tarrant, the Australian white supremacist who killed 51 people at two New Zealand mosques in 2019, has appeared in court to try and withdraw his guilty plea. Tarrant is serving a life sentence with no parole after admitting to murder and attempted murder. He claims he was not in a rational state of mind when he made his plea due to 'torturous and inhumane' prison conditions. The hearing is expected to last a week, with Tarrant giving evidence via video link. Victims' families, including Aya al-Umari, who lost her brother in the attack, will watch the hearing via delayed broadcast. If Tarrant's appeal is successful, the case may go to trial; otherwise, a separate hearing will consider his sentence appeal later in the year.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog began a four-day visit to Australia by laying a wreath at Bondi Beach to honor the victims of a December shooting attack that targeted a Jewish festival. The visit is controversial due to allegations that Herzog has incited genocide in Gaza. Senior Jewish leaders have welcomed the trip, saying it will comfort a grieving community, while others, including some Jewish groups and the Australian National Imams Council, have criticized the invitation, citing Herzog's alleged role in inciting genocide. The visit has sparked nationwide protests, with 5,000 people expected to attend a rally in Sydney. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the invitation, stating that it will contribute to social cohesion and unity after the Bondi attack.

The article discusses the visit of Israel's President Isaac Herzog to the site of a terrorist attack on Bondi Beach in Australia, and how it has put pressure on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The Australian Jewish community is known for being highly Zionist and having strong ties to Israel, which led some leaders to request the government invite President Herzog to mourn with them. The visit has tested Australia's diplomatic relationships and domestic politics.

Brenton Tarrant, the Australian white supremacist who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019, is seeking to appeal his convictions and withdraw his guilty plea. Tarrant claims that harsh prison conditions, including solitary confinement, affected his mental health and compelled him to admit to the crimes. He gave evidence via video link on February 9, 2026, as part of a week-long hearing in Wellington, New Zealand. The court will consider whether Tarrant's appeal can proceed despite being filed outside the legislated time frame. If the court grants the application to vacate the pleas, the case will be sent back to the high court for Tarrant to stand trial.