Australian Maccabi chapter urges boycott of games

The ultimatum came in the same week as the Knesset held a teleconference inquiry about the tragedy.

With families of the victims, their representatives and community leaders participating from Australia, the inquiry committee heard testimony marked by tears and emotion.

Lynne Zines, whose husband, Warren, died as a result of the bridge collapse, told the Knesset members of the "anger and distress that I deal with daily."

She stressed that she found it "distasteful" that 22 months after the tragedy both "the president and chairman...are still holding their positions."

Speaker after speaker expressed their pain and anger, with Peter Wertheim of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry describing the Maccabi World Union's response to the tragedy as a "prevarication, an attempt to avoid responsibility, buck-passing."

Participants were particularly distraught when Amir Peled, Maccabi's representative at the hearing, defended the group's president and chairman for remaining in their positions.

On Sunday, Australian athletes also held a memorial service and demonstration at the site of the accident along the Yarkon River. The event was timed to coincide with the opening of a Maccabi World Union meeting.