Judge blocks Palestine Action protest against Israeli president's visit

The protest against Isaac Herzog's visit is scheduled to kick off from Sydney's Town Hall at 5.30pm.

A Supreme Court judge has rejected an urgent legal challenge launched by the Palestinian Action Group against powers granted to NSW Police.

They were hoping to march in the city this evening to rally against the state visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The pro-Palestine protest was scheduled to kick off from SydneyTown Hall at 5.30pm.

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But it won't be allowed to happen.

Less than 45 minutes before the protest was due to begin, NSW Supreme Court Justice Robertson Wright announced the challenge to the declaration was dismissed.

"Submissions on both sides had ... considerable force," Justice Wright said.

"My conclusions have not been reached easily or lightly.

Thousands of protesters will still show their opposition to Herzog despite the ruling, Palestine Action Group spokesman Josh Lees said outside court.

"We've lost this case, but that does not affect what we're doing tonight," Lees said.

"What we've been saying this entire time is it's entirely lawful for us to gather at Town Hall to hold a public assembly which is what we'll be doing."

Palestine Action Group is still seeking a compromise with NSW Police that would allow the activists to march from Town Hall to Parliament House, Lees said

Hundreds of protesters and about 200 police had descended on Town Hall more than half an hour before the planned protest.

Lawyers for the protesters told the court that the government's declaration was too broad and did not meet legal requirements because no participants or geographic area were specified.

The NSW government declared Herzog's visit a major event and used legislation normally reserved for large crowd events, which grants police the power to restrict access to certain areas or move people along without a reason.

Failure to comply with lawful police direction could result in fines of up to $5500 or exclusion from the major event area. 

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The declaration, however, is not a ban on protests or marches, with police still aware of the demonstration planned to contest the visit of the controversial president.

Before the judgement, the Palestine Action Group said that up to 5000 people would march from Town Hall to State Parliament to oppose the visit of the Israeli President.

"We are calling on police to allow our march to NSW Parliament, which they could easily do," the group said in a statement earlier.

"But we are not seeking any confrontation, this will be a peaceful protest."

When asked about the opposition to his visit, Herzog said demonstrations "undermine and delegitimise" Israel.

"It is important for me to say that I have come here in goodwill," Herzog told media at Bondi Beach today.

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Protesters in Melbourne have also planned a "week of action" against the Israeli President, who is due in the Victorian capital on Thursday.

Organisers are expecting as many as 10,000 activists to descend on Flinders Street Station at 5.30pm today to protest Herzog's Australian visit.

"We are horrified, we are appalled, and we are taking our action to the streets," rally organiser Omar Hassan said.

"His visit as a head of state is not a political act, not a random mourner for Bondi, which we also mourn, he is a political representative of a state that has committed genocide according to the UN High Commission.

"So he is being treated as a political leader with the disrespect actually and the fury he deserves."

The intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets will be blocked off during the evening commute as protesters march towards the State Library of Victoria.

Victoria Police has confirmed it will have a "highly visible presence" through the CBD to ensure the protest remains peaceful.

"Victoria Police respects the right for people to protest lawfully, however we expect that they do so peacefully without impacting the broader community," a spokesperson said.

"Police will be prepared to respond to any issues if needed."

Today's Melbourne march is expected to be followed by further protests in the coming days.

- with AAP