Accused of "divided loyalty": Jewish-Australian officer branded a security risk 

An Australian Army Reserves officer could lose his security clearance after an Administrative Review Tribunal ruling on Thursday recommended revoking it due to concerns over "divided loyalty" between Australia and Israel, potential influence by the Mossad, and failure to disclose interactions with Israelis.

The ruling follows a 2023 Adverse Security Assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), which raised doubts about the officer’s loyalty to Australia, susceptibility to foreign influence, and adherence to security obligations.

ASIO cited interviews in which the officer expressed strong emotional and cultural ties to Israel, using terms like "we" when discussing Israeli politics and stating his “natural solidarity” with the Jewish state.

While the tribunal found no evidence of disloyalty to Australia, it concluded that the officer's Jewish identity and faith contributed to "divided loyalties" in a security context.

ASIO argued that individuals with strong foreign connections could be recruitment targets and pointed to the officer’s statements about information-sharing as a security risk. While he affirmed that he would not transfer intelligence regarding Australian capabilities, he suggested he might share “neutral” information about third parties with ASIO’s approval.

A former ASIO officer testified that the reservist appeared unaware of potential conflicts between Australian and Israeli interests, calling this naivety itself a risk factor.

The Jerusalem Post contributed to this article.