For Australian Jews, the Zygier affair is the nightmare that occurs when two worlds collide

The approach of. Israelí governments and institutions toward Jewish communities worldwide was always instrumental: the communities as a source for "Allyah"' , financical donations and political support. The necessities , constrains and desires of the communities were always ignored, unless they coincided with Israeli needs. The Zygier affair is only an extreme manifestation of this approach, that was probably justified during the first stages of the state but certainly not during the last decades .

These squatters should go back to Europe from whence they came.

I am an Australian Jew and I slept quite well last night contrary to Chemi's histrionic claims. When the family of this young man pursues this issue as an injustice I will sleep less soundly

As an Australian, and an ex soldier in th ADF, I am shocked to think that the author thinks abusing Australian passports is something Israel should just dismiss, not worth apologising for is disgraceful. The fact that others do it makes it ok? Well that explains a lot. Secondly to suggest that "the enemies of one are the foes of the other" is ludicrous. To our shame we stole from the Aboriginies who like the Palestinians were not there when we arrived. We called it "Terra Nullus "What rubbish! I you are so loyal, join the ADF ! But I suppose the people our soldiers fight are more often than not armed.

Dual citizenship is a fact of life in Australia. When hundreds of Australian citizens joined the various Balkan armies, many of whom died or were imprisoned , I never noticed such handwringing. In fact the Australian Government was mostly silent about the issue.

Excellent article, Chemi, thoughtful, accurate and informative in contrast to some of the other speculative and mischievous articles I have read in Haaretz and elsewhere (especially in the Fairfax media group in Australia) regarding this tragic issue. Well done and thank you.

Ben was also a male and white skinned. We might as well target all the whites or all the males in Australia.

As an Israeli ozzi I can say you hot the nail on the head.

This is a prime reason why. Where do the loyalties really lie.

I have been a British Australian resident since the 50's. Loyalty should be to the country that one is domiciled in.....not one based on religious or hereditary grounds ! When young Jews go to Irael for Jewish culture, many working on KIbbutzes...they find that most workers are NOT Jewish...thus un jewish relationships abound.....gimme a break !

Surely the unconditional support/ love of Israel and the tendency to criticize and ostracize anyone in the Australian diaspora who thinks differently is a worrying problem in itself.

Thank you Chemi. Please educate Dan Goldberg who regularly errs in his 'stories' about the Australian Jewish community.

They are running out of good neighborhoods (smile).

Because that's pretty much what has been described here. A group of people who are so caught up in "belonging" and so unquestioning in their tribal loyalties are not in the least admirable - they come across as frightening fanatics.

Re: the misuse of Australian passports is not some serious war crime. Some in Oz think it is not OK for Mossad / Israel to kidnap, torture and murder. It is performing these crimes using false Australian passports that disgusts Australians whether they are Jews or not.