this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2024
256 points (96.7% liked)

World News

32521 readers
1026 users here now

News from around the world!

Rules:

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

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.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 23 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Reservist = Military Personnel

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

[–] moody@lemmings.world 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week 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.