“Because of the Israeli flag”: the honeymoon celebration in Italy was canceled – for “ethical” reasons

What was supposed to be a sweet peak moment in the couple’s honeymoon, quickly turned into a severe disappointment and a feeling of acute discrimination. Carmit Levy, a 35-year-old Israeli-American from Florida, registered with her husband, a resident of Kibbutz Ein Gav, for a pasta-making workshop in Italy through the Experiences tab of the Airbnb platform. However, shortly after registration, she was asked by the facilitator of the workshop – “For ethical and family reasons, I ask you to cancel this invitation, please. Thank you.”

Levy told N12 about the feeling of astonishment and anger: “I was boiling with rage, how dare they ask me to cancel for ethical reasons? I told them that normal adults don’t have to agree with each other’s opinions, but that doesn’t give them any right to discriminate against me.”

Levy forwarded the correspondence to Jewish content creator Ran Alkalai in order to reach a wide circulation: “I want the world to know that this person and this company discriminates against Jews and Israelis, and it should be called anti-Semitism.”

In response, the Italian host (Nico) clarified exactly what bothered him: “We are very sorry if it bothers you, but what you posted as an addition to your profile picture (the Israeli flag) deeply offends us. That’s why we prefer to give up getting to know you. Thank you for your interest anyway, have a nice day.”

Levy answered him immediately: “Wow, you should be ashamed. I will file a complaint with Airbnb and escalate the issue due to blatant discrimination.” At this point, the host attacked back: “You are the one who should be ashamed, for introducing this information into a cooking experience and exposing us to your political positions. We decide where we prefer to stand in this situation in which you made a political decision to demonstrate and present this political message, not us. We feel embarrassed. Therefore, I kindly ask you, here and now, to cancel the invitation.”

Despite repeated calls to Airbnb customer service, the couple ran into a wall in the form of procrastination. “I’m waiting for Airbnb to get back to me. Since yesterday they keep saying that a ‘special mitzvah’ person will contact me, but no one has called back,” Levy says. “I called again this morning – and nothing. The invitation was canceled, but I don’t even know who canceled it, the host or the company, because no one answers. We are very disappointed, and it’s sad that this is happening precisely on our little honeymoon.”