Tight security for Israeli President

President Moshe Katsav, right, and his wife Gila tour Sydney Harbor


Tight security for President
By Samantha Baden
February 28, 2005
From: AAP
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12398685-29277,00.html

ISRAELI President Moshe Katsav spent his first afternoon in Australia cruising Sydney Harbour amid tight security, including dozens of police and two PolAir helicopters.
Mr Katsav and his wife Gila arrived in Sydney today for a week-long visit to Australia during which anti-war and Palestinian protesters have vowed to picket his official engagements.
It is the president's first visit to Australia and the first Australian visit by an Israeli president since Chaim Herzog in 1986.

Mr Katsav, Israel's eighth president, will remain in Sydney tomorrow to meet New South Wales Premier Bob Carr, business representatives and members of the city's Jewish community.
He will travel to Canberra on Wednesday for a lunch hosted by Prime Minister John Howard and a state dinner with Governor-General Michael Jeffery.

Mr Katsav also will meet Opposition Leader Kim Beazley in Canberra.
The President's visit comes just months after an Israeli diplomat was expelled by Australia.
Neither Israel nor Australia will comment on the reason for Amir Laty's return to Israel, which has been linked to his friendship with Attorney-General Philip Ruddock's daughter.
Police blocked off pedestrian access to sections of the Sydney Opera House forecourt today and installed dozens of uniformed police in preparation for Mr Katsav's harbour cruise.

Two PolAir helicopters buzzed overhead as Mr Katsav and an entourage of about 40 people walked the 50m from the Opera House driveway to the Man O'War steps to board a private vessel called Charade.
More than 100 people lined barricades set up by police, but while Mr Katsav was happy to wave to well wishers, it seemed many of the onlookers were hoping to catch a glimpse of visiting royalty.
A tourist, who asked not to be named, said she wanted to see Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, a Tasmanian visiting Australia with her husband Crown Prince Frederik.
"We don't know who's coming here, but we'd like to see Mary," she said.
The President spent two hours touring the harbour flanked by four police vessels which had security personnel on board armed with semi-automatic weapons.
Australian security authorities are understood to have maintained the country's long-standing policy of banning the carrying of weapons by foreign guards protecting visiting officials.