Discrimination in Italy: Hotel Bans Israeli Guests

This time, it was a hotel—a small, three-star retreat in northern Italy—that chose to target Israeli guests with an email that defied both decency and legality, stating, “genocidal people are not welcome.” The recent decision by Hotel Garni Ongaro, in Selva di Cadore, a mountain village surrounded by the Dolomites, to email Israeli customers with the suggestion to cancel their bookings as personae non gratae has sent shockwaves through Jewish communities worldwide. The message, allegedly offering to waive the establishment’s cancellation fee, is both appalling and illegal, and it speaks to a broader issue of unchecked bias in Italian hospitality, often masked as political solidarity. The incident underlines a failure to recognize legal and ethical obligations in an increasingly polarized world, where businesses often assume a stance in global conflicts without considering the real harm caused to individuals.

At a fundamental level, hospitality laws in Italy and the European Union are clear: businesses cannot discriminate against patrons based on nationality, religion, race, or political beliefs. This principle is not only legally mandated but ethically crucial to preserving respect, diversity, and safety in public accommodations. Hotel Garni Ongaro’s email, however, flouts this principle blatantly. Such discrimination is a direct affront to the protections afforded under the law and opens questions about potential legal repercussions for the hotel. Should legal bodies step in, this incident could well serve as a landmark case for discrimination in the hospitality industry.

Even more disturbing is the symbolic message this behavior sends. Italy, a country whose own recent history is fraught with painful episodes of prejudice and intolerance, now appears to be revisiting its past by embracing divisive political sentiments toward Israel. Emanuel Segre Amar, president of the Gruppo Sionistico Piemontese, spoke to this deeply ingrained prejudice resurfacing under the guise of anti-Zionism. He invoked the late Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, who condemned anti-Zionism as an attack on Israel’s right to security and existence, regardless of the country’s changing governments. Amar stated, “Anti-Zionism denies the reasons for Israel’s founding, in the past, and its security, in the present,” underscoring that Italy’s political and media spheres have neglected Napolitano’s words, leading to renewed anti-Semitic sentiments under the guise of Palestinian solidarity.

The irony is that while Italy and other European nations may take sides in conflicts, many of these stances are grounded in sensationalism, devoid of meaningful context or engagement with the realities on the ground. Italian citizens, for example, may express support or condemnation of foreign political causes without fully grasping the complex layers of history and policy involved. This tendency often leads to misguided sympathies that manifest as discriminatory acts, as seen with Hotel Garni Ongaro.

It is heartening to note that in response to this egregious behavior, many Italians, including non-Jewish allies, rallied in protest, leading to the removal of Hotel Garni Ongaro from Booking.com. This powerful backlash against discrimination serves as a testament to the values of tolerance and respect still present within Italy. Nonetheless, the fact remains that anti-Semitism, masquerading as anti-Zionism, appears to be finding footholds in Italian society. This incident should act as a wake-up call to Italian businesses and the public alike, reinforcing that taking political stances cannot come at the cost of fundamental human respect and legal obligations.

The actions of Hotel Garni Ongaro serve as a stark warning of how easily ignorance can fester into open hostility. This incident isn’t just a breach of law; it’s a reminder that prejudice, unchecked, resurfaces with new excuses and new targets. If history has taught us anything, it’s that bigotry left unchallenged has a way of lingering—and that condemning it isn’t just a moral duty, but a necessary one to avoid repeating the worst chapters of the past.