Popular Israeli holiday destinations grapple with persistent antisemitism problem

Greece and Cyprus are among the most favoured holiday destinations for Israeli tourists, yet both countries conceal a troubling reality: widespread antisemitic attitudes remain deeply embedded in their societies. While these Mediterranean nations maintain cordial diplomatic relations with Israel, the experience of Jewish visitors and residents tells a different story about prejudices that continue to flourish beneath the surface of official friendliness. Recent investigations have revealed the extent to which antisemitic stereotypes persist in everyday conversations, media representations and social attitudes across both countries. For many Israeli travellers seeking sun and relaxation, the disconnect between their governments’ pro-Israel stance and grassroots antisemitism serves as an unwelcome reminder that state-level diplomacy does not necessarily translate to social acceptance. The findings challenge the assumption that friendly international relations automatically mean tolerance and acceptance of Jewish people at community level. Both Greece and Cyprus demonstrate that a country can maintain good relations with the Israeli state whilst harbouring significant populations who hold deeply prejudiced views about Jews. This phenomenon highlights a broader issue affecting multiple European nations, where official policy towards Israel often masks underlying social attitudes that Jewish communities find concerning and troubling.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.