Israeli siblings Omer Berger, 24, and Ella Berger, 22, faced delays in obtaining Australian visas after being asked to complete to complete a 13-page document typically required for military personnel involved in war. The siblings had planned to visit their 100-year-old great-grandmother, a Holocaust survivor.

According to Berger, six family members applied for Australian visas two months ago. While all were promptly approved, Omer and Ella were told to submit the extended form. The questions included whether they had participated in physical or psychological abuse, served as guards or officials in detention facilities or engaged in war crimes or genocide.

Ella, who had received a week’s leave from her military service to attend the celebration, gave up waiting and returned to Israel. Omer, a reservist, remains in Thailand, hoping for a resolution. Berger expressed the family’s heartbreak, fearing they may never see their great-grandmother again. “We just want a clear answer, yes or no,” he said.

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[–] 149 points 2 years ago (6 children)

Oh the sweet irony of serving in a military committing genocide and wanting to visit your relative whom is a holocaust survivor.

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  • [–] 43 points 2 years ago (5 children)

    On land unceded to the colonizers by genocided peoples.

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  • [+] -57 points 2 years ago (4 children)

    Found the vegan at the party.

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  • [–] 86 points 2 years ago (4 children)

    faced delays in obtaining Australian visas after being asked to complete to complete a 13-page document typically required for military personnel involved in war

    Well, they were involved in war, no matter how much lipstick this article wants to put on the pig.

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  • [–] 23 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Reservist = Military Personnel

    Am i missing something here or why is that even mentioned?

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  • [–] 7 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Reservists don't necessarily go fight in a war. A lot of their work is voluntary rather than forced.

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  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago*

    Reservists are soldiers that were drafted, served and then went back to doing civilian stuff. In Israels case there are probably no reservists that did not get deployed in some capacity. The chance that any randomly picked reservist has not participated in genocide, torture or at least unjust abuse of people from Gaza or the Westbank is pretty damn low.

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  • [–] 70 points 2 years ago

    "Stonewalled", no, that's 13 pages of routine paperwork. I had to do more to see the doctor.

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  • [–] 65 points 2 years ago (9 children)
  • [–] 14 points 2 years ago (5 children)

    You have the world's tiniest violin, but can you play it?

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  • [–] 38 points 2 years ago (4 children)
  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    For whatever reason that's not coming through for me without clicking.

    For others who might have the same issue:

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  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago (1 child)
  • [–] 54 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Good fuck these war criminals.

    Make Israelis feel unwelcome everywhere besides their shiti apartheid shit hole.

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  • [–] 48 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

    being asked to complete to complete a 13-page document typically required for military personnel involved in war

    Being part of the illegal occupation force known as the IDF should DEFINITELY qualify you for that, plus more.

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  • [–] 41 points 2 years ago

    “We just want a clear answer, yes or no,”

    So... DID you participate in genocide?

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  • [–] 38 points 2 years ago*

    “We just want a clear answer, yes or no,” he said.

    Well they also just want a clear answer, yes or no. We already know which one it is tho...

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  • [–] 35 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    If traveling is that important maybe don't participate in genocide then?

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  • [–] 28 points 2 years ago

    I guess seeing her grandma wasn't as important to her as not telling the truth. How hurtful for her grandma. At least she won't have to greet any more genocide enactors.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 years ago

    The bare fucking minimum so that the Australian government can argue that they aren’t complicit

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  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago

    I'm pretty sure centrelink forms are routinely longer than 13 pages.

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