An Israeli woman cancelled a planned stay at a hotel in Naples after receiving an automated confirmation email declaring the property’s support for an anti-Israel campaign associated with the BDS movement.
The woman, identified only as R, had booked a room at the Decumani Hotel De Charme ahead of a business trip to the southern Italian city with her husband, according to Channel 12.
After submitting her reservation through Booking.com, she received an automated message stating that the hotel supports the “No Room for Genocide” campaign.
The email said the hotel “supports the ‘No Room for Genocide’ campaign and respects the freedom and human rights of communities suffering racial, ethnic, social, and other forms of discrimination”.
"We warmly welcome Palestinians, refugees and all those who peacefully oppose oppression and struggle for their internationally recognised rights,” it went on.
Although the hotel did not refuse her reservation, R said the message left her feeling unwelcome and concerned for her safety.
“I wrote that I didn’t feel safe to go there,” she told Channel 12.
“It somewhat reduced my desire to travel, but you get over it. It’s still a very unpleasant feeling, and it ruins your mood even before the trip.”
The text was seemingly taken from a “No Room for Genocide” toolkit distributed by BDS Italy for participating hotels and tourism businesses.
The campaign encourages properties using Booking.com to include the message in reservation confirmations and says it is intended to discourage patronage by Israelis, whom it describes as suspected perpetrators of war crimes.
The campaign recommends that participating businesses seek “background clarification” from guests to determine whether they are citizens of a country accused of serious human rights violations or served in that country’s military during the relevant period.
It was not clear whether the Naples hotel requested such information from the Israeli traveller.
The incident follows a similar case in Italy in May, when another Israeli traveller cancelled a reservation at a guesthouse in Tuscany after its owner demanded that she publicly oppose the policies of the Israeli government before allowing her family to stay.
In that case, the host wrote: “Israel reacted outrageously after October 7. I need to know that you are not a partner in your government’s policy – otherwise you are not welcome.”
The JC has contacted Booking.com and the hotel for comment.
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