Jerusalem Court Orders Swimmer to Pay Damages for Racist Remarks at Hotel Pool

A routine dispute at a Jerusalem hotel pool escalated into a legal case after a swimmer directed racist remarks at a mother and her children. The Small Claims Court in Jerusalem partially accepted the mother's lawsuit, ruling that the swimmer must pay damages for defamation based on proven racist statements. The incident occurred while the mother was vacationing with her family, and her children were playing in the pool. The swimmer, a pool member attending a swimming lesson, allegedly pushed her son repeatedly and then shouted racist insults including "Go back to Africa" and "disgusting".

The swimmer denied the accusations, claiming the children were disturbing his swimming lane and that his interactions were polite. He also accused the mother of verbally abusing him. No hotel staff or lifeguards testified, but a video recorded by the mother during the confrontation supported her version. Although the exact phrase "Go back to Africa" was not audible, the court found the mother's repeated questions about her origin indicated the swimmer had made such remarks.

Judge David Armon emphasized that attributing someone's origin based on skin color and telling them to "go back" is racist and excludes them from the local community, regardless of their Israeli birth. The court rejected the swimmer's defense and noted his impolite tone in the video. Since the mother did not prove physical harm or significant damage and the racist comment was made once during a limited dispute, the court moderated the compensation amount.

The swimmer was ordered to pay 3,600 shekels in damages. The judge highlighted that the compensation serves both as a remedy for the victim and a societal condemnation of racism, sending a message to the parties involved and the public.