The NSW government has invoked special powers ahead of the Israeli president’s visit next week with the premier, Chris Minns, warning would-be protesters that police will not allow “conflict on Sydney streets”.

But 13 state and federal NSW MPs have written to the police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, appealing for him to work with protest organisers to facilitate a planned assembly and march from Town Hall to state parliament.

Several of the MPs have indicated they will join protesters in the march. The group pushed back at the premier, accusing him of trying to paint peaceful protest as “inconvenient and illegitimate” by invoking the special powers.

Isaac Herzog is due to arrive in Sydney on Monday and will spend five days in Australia. He is expected to meet with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, as well as Jewish leaders and victims of the Bondi beach terror attack and their families.

On Saturday, Minns said the government had declared the president’s visit would fall under the state’s “major event” legislation.

This allows police to put additional measures in place to manage crowd safety, maintain separation between different groups, and “reduce the risk of confrontation in busy parts of the city”, the government said in a statement.

It said these arrangements were “not a ban on protests or marches [and] people retain the right to express their views lawfully”.

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NSW police will have additional powers including directing people to move on where necessary, close specific locations, and issue directions to prevent disruption or risk to public safety.

Anyone who fails to comply with police directions may face penalties, including fines of up to $5,500.

Protesters fear the additional powers could be used to effectively ban protests in the CBD and eastern suburbs over the course of Herzog’s visit.

“The Palestinian Action Group proposes a rally from Town Hall through the streets of the Sydney CBD,” the NSW police commissioner Mal Lanyon said on Saturday.

“That route is unauthorised.”

Rallies have been organised in all state capitals ahead of Herzog’s five-day tour, with Sydney his first stop.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Minns said NSW police would have “a massive presence” on Monday afternoon, asking people to avoid the CBD if they can.

“We’re hoping that people can remain calm and respectful during that presidential visit,” he said. “We can disagree without resorting to clashes or violence on Sydney streets. In fact, that would be devastating for everybody, regardless of your cause.”

The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, said Herzog was coming to mourn with the Australian Jewish community.

“We believe that that is the right thing for them to do, and I really plead with the people of NSW to also join with that community and respect their grieving period.”

Greens MP Sue Higginson, who was one of the 13 members of parliament to sign the open letter to Lanyon, said people protesting on Monday will be acting “in accordance with our constitutional freedom”.

“The making of a major event declaration and the commentary from the premier and some parts of the NSW Police, trying to paint protest as inconvenient and illegitimate, is misleading and dangerous and must be corrected,” she said.

“The commissioner of police has the power to make sure that everyone that attends the CBD on Monday is kept safe, this includes the general public as well as people who are peacefully opposing the presence of a man who has incited genocide.

“The best and safest thing the police can do is to facilitate the wishes of the people and enable the protest gathering and march. The police here in NSW have a responsibility to ensure that lawful rights are upheld, and that includes the safe exercise of the right to protest.”

NSW police on Friday said they were aware of plans for a march on Town Hall that fell within the controversial anti-protest ban that was brought in following the Bondi terror attack.

Under new laws brought in after the Bondi attack, marchers may be liable to be charged with certain offences, including obstructing pedestrians and traffic.