Israelis Report Antisemitic Abuse at Italian Restaurant

Israeli tourists visiting a restaurant in northern Italy, Jacky in Limone sul Garda, claim they were subjected to antisemitic abuse by a waiter after asking for the Wi-Fi password. The incident was reported on Facebook by one of the tourists, Gaut Hazan, who described the waiter as saying, "You are animals, you kill childrens." Hazan stated that restaurant staff did not intervene but instead called the police on the group. She added that the arriving police officers were polite and apologized for the situation. Hazan has filed complaints and shared her experience to warn other travelers.

This incident is part of a pattern of reported anti-Israeli and antisemitic incidents in Italy. In July, a document circulated in the country encouraging citizens to report the presence of "Israelis and Zionists," which the Union of Italian Jewish Communities condemned as a serious manifestation of antisemitism. The document, which aimed to counter what its authors called "Zionist neo-colonization" of Italy, had its access subsequently blocked.

Further incidents include the exclusion of the Jewish LGBTQ+ organization "Keshet" from a Rome pride march for refusing to condemn Israel, and Israeli tourists receiving offensive letters from accommodations demanding they denounce Israeli government policy. One restaurant reportedly refused service to a patron displaying a Star of David on her Instagram profile. The exclusion of "Keshet" from the pride march drew criticism for contradicting the event's stated goal of protecting LGBTQ+ rights.