Scandal at a popular resort: "Zionists entry prohibited"
Israeli tourist Galit Ben-Shimhon discovered a sign reading "Zionists entry prohibited" at the entrance to a bar on the Greek island of Lesbos. The owner refused to remove it. The tourist initiated legal proceedings, citing Greek and European anti-discrimination laws that provide for up to six months in prison and a fine.
Israeli tourist Galit Ben-Shimhon, vacationing on the Greek island of Lesbos, encountered a sign reading "Zionists entry prohibited" at the entrance to a local bar. She asked the owner to remove the sign but was refused. Subsequently, Ben-Shimhon decided to take legal steps, citing Greek and European anti-discrimination laws that provide for a penalty of up to six months in prison and a fine. The incident occurred against the backdrop of another case where an Israeli couple was thrown out of a bar in Athens after the owner learned of their origin. In an interview with Keshet 12, Ben-Shimhon said the saleswoman immediately began speaking to her condescendingly and declared support for the Palestinians. The tourist emphasized that there is a line between protest, discrimination, and breaking the law. She also reported sending a letter to a person distributing leaflets accusing Israelis of taking over the island, and that the day before the matter nearly came to a fight. Ben-Shimhon noted that the leaflet distributors are not Greeks, but people coming to Greece with "their strange progressive ideas."