Hotel Discrimination Against Israelis Sparks Tourism Tensions

An Israeli couple’s planned vacation in Ragusa, Sicily turned controversial this week after a hotel requested they cancel their booking over political concerns. Yulia Shritz, a resident of Rishon Lezion, booked the trip for late September with her husband and friends, only to receive an unexpected email from P43 Sicilian Suites.

The message read: "Good evening Yulia. We are deeply concerned about what is happening in Gaza. If you believe your government is acting correctly, please cancel your reservation and find alternative accommodations. However, if you too are horrified by the events of the past two years, we would be happy to host you for a pleasant stay."

Shock and Response

“I was completely surprised,” Shritz declared. “I had booked five other hotels in Sicily, and all confirmed without any problem. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”

Despite her frustration, Shritz decided not to engage in a confrontation and instead canceled the booking herself.

“I was furious, but I didn’t want to escalate. Honestly, it might have ended with them refusing us in person anyway,” she said.

She subsequently filed a complaint with Booking.com, urging the platform to investigate the hotel for “unfair treatment of guests based purely on nationality or political stance.” The hotel responded, calling the incident “a misunderstanding.”

Booking scandal (Photo: shutterstock/daily_creativity)

A Broader Pattern in Europe

This is not an isolated case. Since the outbreak of conflict in Israel, other European hotels have reportedly refused Israeli guests. In Belgium, one hotel canceled a booking, claiming the guests were “committing war crimes,” while a Swiss hotel cited its policy of not hosting people from the Middle East.

Italy, in particular, has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents in recent months. Attacks on Jewish visitors have been reported in Venice, antisemitic signs appeared in Milan, and posters were displayed in Naples.

The incident highlights growing tensions for Israeli travelers in Europe, as political conflicts increasingly affect hospitality and tourism.