Kerry hotelier refuses to accommodate Israeli citizen

An Israeli citizen has revealed how a Co Kerry hotelier refused to accommodate him and his family because of the Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinians.

Arieh Bender, a journalist from one of Israel’s biggest newspapers, said he sent an e-mail to Killarney Lakeland Cottages in Muckross last week to inquire about accommodation for a party of nine.

He received a reply from someone called Brian O’Shea saying “we are not accepting bookings from Israeli citizens due to the treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli government”.

Speaking from Jerusalem today, Mr Bender said he was offended to be told that his custom was not welcome simply because he was an Israeli.

He said Mr O’Shea made no distinction between Israelis who support their government’s policies and those who oppose them.

The hotelier told Mr Bender that his decision was based on political principle and not on any anti-Jewish beliefs, but the Israeli said he now feels Ireland is not the welcoming land he was led to believe it was.

Mr Bender said he is now considering taking his holiday somewhere else in Europe.