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Yehuda Schlesinger, a frequent traveler to Sinai, Egypt, was stunned to learn he could no longer stay at a resort he had previously visited — simply because he's Israeli. Schlesinger, 38, attempted to book a vacation at RockSea, a beachfront camp he had stayed at twice before.
Speaking to Ynet, he said he received a reply email informing him that Israeli citizens were currently not welcome due to the "sensitive situation."
“I’ve been going to Sinai for over a decade, usually around Passover and Sukkot,” Schlesinger said. “Most places still welcome me warmly. I wanted to return to RockSea because it’s well organized, has a beautiful beach and I know the owner, Roxy and the staff.”
But when he reached out by email to make a reservation, he got a surprising response. “We truly believe that travel brings people together, and we hope for a future where we can welcome everyone with open arms,” the resort wrote.
“However, due to the current very sensitive situation and the concerns shared by some of our local guests, we feel it's not the right moment to host visitors from Israel. Please know that this decision is not personal and certainly not rooted in any form of discrimination.
“It's simply a reflection of the tense atmosphere on the ground right now, which we have to carefully navigate for the safety and comfort of all. We deeply hope for peace and better times for everyone, and we'd be happy to welcome you in the future.”
Schlesinger said the response came from an Egyptian manager. “It’s infuriating,” he said. “How can they send me an email saying they’re not accepting Israelis and claim it’s not personal? It’s as personal as it gets. This is directed at all Israelis. And what’s most frustrating is that it’s not even a Bedouin-run beach — because the Bedouins would never do this. They always welcome us.”
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When asked what he replied to the resort, Schlesinger said: “I told them it was a terrible response. To my knowledge, there’s a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. I also reminded them that it’s a German-owned beach. Germany and the Holocaust — that’s why we Jews even ended up in this region. So you’re taking sides now and refusing to host Israelis?
“Discrimination against Israelis shouldn’t be tolerated — whether in Paris or Egypt. We’ve had peace with Egypt for 40 years. It’s unacceptable for a beach owner to decide to side with the other party and refuse Israelis. What’s next — kicking all Israelis out of Sinai?”
RockSea issued a statement, reading, “First and foremost, we deeply regret that our message caused harm — this was never our intention. Our response was solely aimed at ensuring the safety, comfort and well-being of all our guests during a particularly sensitive period. Unfortunately, it reflects the tension and polarization we mentioned.
“Our goal was to prevent any uncomfortable or distressing situation — not to discriminate. We want to emphasize that the decision was made with a heavy heart, in response to a local environment that requires us to act cautiously and responsibly for everyone’s safety, including that of Israeli visitors. We look forward to a time when we can once again welcome all peaceful travelers with open arms, as we’ve always intended to.”