Tourism boycott hits Israel in both directions - 
                Tourists boycott Israel & Israeli tourists are now boycotted! 
              Irish 
                Hotel Boycotts Israeli Tourists 
               
            BreakingNews.ie 
              October 03, 2002 
               
             
            An Israeli citizen has revealed how a Co Kerry hotelier refused 
              to accommodate him and his family because of the Israeli governments 
              treatment of the Palestinians.  
            Arieh Bender, a journalist from one of Israels biggest newspapers, 
              said he sent an e-mail to Killarney Lakeland Cottages in Muckross 
              last week to inquire about accommodation for a party of nine.  
            He received a reply from someone called Brian OShea saying 
              we are not accepting bookings from Israeli citizens due to 
              the treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli government. 
            Speaking from Jerusalem today, Mr Bender said he was offended to 
              be told that his custom was not welcome simply because he was an 
              Israeli.  
            He said Mr OShea made no distinction between Israelis who 
              support their governments policies and those who oppose them. 
             
            The hotelier told Mr Bender that his decision was based on political 
              principle and not on any anti-Jewish beliefs, but the Israeli said 
              he now feels Ireland is not the welcoming land he was led to believe 
              it was.  
            Mr Bender said he is now considering taking his holiday somewhere 
              else in Europe. 
              
            
               
                 
                   
                     
                      Interview With Boycotted Israeli Tourist 
                    ( Jerusalem Post Radio, Dave Bender 3 October 
                      2003 )  
                   
                   Amusing interview jumps from the absurdity of trying 
                    to draw parallels with the Biblical story of Jesus - "reason 
                    given for lack of space at the inn..." to the more usual 
                    slur of anti-Semitism and shamelessly dredging up the holocaust 
                    - "child of holocaust survivors says it reminds him of 
                    the darkest days of Europe". The interesting bit is at 
                    the end where the interviewer admits that this isn't an isolated 
                    incident - Israeli tourists have been facing similar boycotts 
                    all over Europe for the past two years. 
                  
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