The hunting down of Jews for sport
It’s the second time in just a matter of weeks that reports are coming in of attempts to locate Israeli tourists visiting abroad, making their whereabouts known to the general public. The first incident happened in Italy.
According to a Jerusalem Post article, in late July, local Italians were being urged to fill out forms, available on Google, to report the presence of Israeli citizens staying in hotels and other accommodations. Finding this very disturbing, the president of the Jewish Community of Milan responded by saying, “I think we’re going back to the 1930s to hunting Jews.
”The second incident occurred in Amsterdam, when “flyers were distributed, featuring names and locations of Jewish IDF soldiers visiting the city, ahead of the Pride Amsterdam event, slated to take place between July 25 and August 8.”
Written on the flyers was, “Protect your community, watch out for war criminals during WorldPride.” The names of Israelis were mapped out throughout different locations in the city, with photos attached to facilitate recognition.
Although both the WorldPride event organizers, as well as the City of Amsterdam, categorically stated that they were not responsible for the dissemination of the flyers, their distribution took place, during the celebration, with the official WorldPride logo.
It turns out that the anonymous form, circulated in Italy, along with the messaging to hotels, vacation rentals and businesses, warning to be on the lookout for Israeli tourists, was also the work of an outside group.
What is clear is that malicious antisemitic groups have infiltrated venues with their hateful propaganda, designed to intimidate both the visiting Jewish tourists and also those who host them.
The troubling practice definitely conjures up horrific memories of the same toxic atmosphere that began to spread throughout much of Europe in the days leading up to the Holocaust.
In the case of Amsterdam, recipients of the flyers, who wanted to learn more, were directed to go to the HRF website (Hind Rajab Foundation) – an advocacy group, pushing for the prosecution of IDF soldiers, who they claim have committed genocide.
These two incidents are especially maddening, because they involve an insidious deception which takes advantage of already organized scheduled events, where large audiences will gather.
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