Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Protests expected to greet Israeli leader’s Australia visit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be greeted with protests during his historic visit to Australia in the coming week.

It’s the first visit down under by a serving Israeli prime minister and comes on the heels of Mr Netanyahu meeting US president Donald Trump.

More than 60 prominent Australians, including former Labor politicians, senior legal professionals and clergy, have signed a statement opposing Mr Netanyahu’s visit because of his government’s policies towards Palestinians.

“It is time for the suffering of the Palestinian people to stop and for Australia to take a more balanced role in supporting the application of international law and not supporting Mr Netanyahu and his policies,” they write.

Protests are planned throughout the week in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.

Watch the news report by Gareth Boreham at SBS World News.