Israelis increasingly 'unwelcome' in Europe, signaling 8th front

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
17 Nov 2024 15:14

Israeli media report a new phenomenon affecting Israelis on the world stage, as they face growing ostracism in Europe.

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Police escort Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters to the metro station leading to the Ajax stadium, after pro-Palestinian supporters marched near the stadium, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Nov. 7, 2024 (AP)

Israeli media has reported a new phenomenon affecting Israelis, where they are increasingly "unwelcome in Europe."

Channel 12 News stated that more Israelis in Europe are booking hotels, only to later receive a statement from the hotel indicating that they are not welcome because people across Europe are beginning to hold Israelis accountable for the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The channel highlighted a case in Italy, where a hotel in the north of the country refused a booking made by several Israelis. Those who booked online received the following message:
"Good morning, we inform you that Israelis, being responsible for genocide, are not welcome as guests in our hotel. If you wish to cancel your booking, we will gladly do so and offer you a free cancellation."

During a #EuroLeague basketball match in #Athens on Tuesday, #Panathinaikos fans displayed Palestinian flags in their home game against Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv.

They also unfurled a large banner reading "Stop Genocide, Freedom to Palestine" in the stands.

This… pic.twitter.com/VNuIYkzUGs
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 13, 2024

This comes several days after clashes broke out across the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, after Israeli hooligans physically assaulted citizens, took down Palestinian flags displayed on private property, and chanted provocative slogans inciting violence against Arabs and Palestinians.

Similar clashes occurred days later in France during a football match between the French national team and the Israeli national team, leading to confrontations between the fans.

This suggests the emergence of an "eighth front" that "Israel" now faces, in addition to its existing seven fronts: "the international front and the risk to Israelis abroad," according to Israeli media.

Elsewhere, the media highlighted that Israelis are increasingly ostracized and unwelcome, amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Amsterdam events anti-Zionist not antisemitic: Israeli think tank head

The director of an Israeli think tank described the demonstrations in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, as anti-Israeli and anti-Zionist, not anti-Semitic.

Dr. Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu, director of the Israel-Europe Relations Program at the Israeli think tank, Mitvim, and a lecturer at Hebrew University’s European Forum and Tel Aviv University’s European Union Studies Program, stated in an interview that the demonstrators opposing Israeli fans were not targeting Jews but Israelis.

She emphasized that the actions were primarily motivated by anti-Zionism or anti-"Israel" sentiment.

While clarifying that there “is no justification for violence,” the pro-Palestinians "specifically sought revenge on the one who tore up the Palestinian flags and called for the death of the Arabs. The actions of those in Amsterdam are the result of anti-Israeli sentiment. There is a very sharp new anti-Semitism, but in Amsterdam, it was mainly anti-Israeli and anti-Zionist."

Sion-Tzidkiyahu said that "a month into the war, the number of civilian casualties in Gaza caused a very large anti-Israeli wave. It is very easy to dismiss everything with the word 'anti-Semitism'."

The professor cautioned that as long as the Israeli occupation and its Western allies continue to equate opposition to "Israel" and its war crimes with anti-Semitism, Tel Aviv risks fueling anti-Semitism in Europe, which stems from anti-"Israel" and anti-Zionist sentiment.

She further stressed that Israelis must understand that the Israeli atrocities in Gaza will endanger European Jews and the continuation of Jewish life in Europe "due to the rise of anti-Semitic attacks against them."