Several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated in Sydney on Thursday against the first visit to Australia by an Israeli prime minister, branding Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal". 


A police helicopter hovered over the city as speakers slammed Canberra's strong support of Netanyahu and his government. 


A large banner was unfurled depicting Netanyahu with a mustache as Hitler and the word "Fascist" written underneath. 


The demonstrators, organised by the local Palestine Action Group, tried to march on Netanyahu's hotel but were cut off by police well short of the city centre building over looking the harbor. 


Ahead of Netanyahu's arrival Wednesday, some 60 business leaders, academics, members of the clergy and former politicians signed a letter saying Australia should not welcome Netanyahu, claiming his policies "provoke, intimidate and oppress" the Palestinians

Source: NNA