Omer and Ella Berger's planned family reunion in Sydney turned into a diplomatic incident when Australian authorities delayed their visa applications, citing their IDF service as grounds for additional scrutiny and ultimately preventing them from entering the country with their relatives.
Six family members applied for visitor visas approximately two months before their scheduled flight to celebrate their grandmother Julan Berger's centennial birthday. While four applications were swiftly approved, Omer, serving in the academic reserve program, and Ella, an Intelligence Corps service member, were required to complete extensive 13-page declarations typically reserved for foreign fighters and government officials. The questionnaire included pointed inquiries about participation in prisoner abuse, detention center operations, and potential involvement in war crimes or genocide.
Despite submitting the comprehensive documentation, no response arrived before their departure date. The siblings remained in Thailand awaiting authorization, until Ella was forced to return to Israel when her military leave expired.
Speaking to The Nightly, family representative Aaron Berger condemned the delays, attributing them to what he described as the government's increasingly hostile stance toward Israel as the war continues. "Why are we subjecting friendly allies to war crimes investigations?" he asked.
The emotional impact was particularly acute, Berger noted, given the possibility that this might have been their final opportunity to see their grandmother. "We simply need a clear yes or no answer," he emphasized.
The incident follows a similar case three weeks ago involving former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who was denied an Australian visa on grounds that her presence might offend certain communities. Forced to cancel her appearance at an Australian Jewish organization's conference, Shaked issued a sharp rebuke, "The current Australian government has taken an anti-Israeli and extreme pro-Palestinian position, with elements of antisemitism. These are dark days for Australian democracy – they have chosen to stand on the wrong side of history."
Australia's Department of Home Affairs maintained that no new visa policies had been implemented for Israeli citizens in response to the conflict, noting that 11,000 Israelis had received visas over the past year. A department spokesperson stated, "Following standard procedures, applicants may be required to complete supplementary documentation when additional information is needed for specific cases."
The visa controversies emerge amid escalating antisemitic incidents across Australia. A vehicle was torched and anti-Israel slogans were spray-painted on buildings in Sydney's Woollahra neighborhood, home to a significant Jewish population, just two days ago. This follows last week's arson attack on Melbourne's Adass Israel synagogue, which drew widespread condemnation from both Israeli and Australian officials.
