Switzerland condemns anti-Semitism after furor over hotel sign

The Swiss Foreign Ministry says it told Israel’s ambassador that it condemns anti-Semitism, after a sign in a hotel telling Jews to shower before using the pool sparked anger.

Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Tilman Renz tells AFP in an email that the ministry had been in contact with envoy Jacob Keidar and had “outlined to him that Switzerland condemns racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination in any form.”

The Paradies apartment hotel in the Alpine village of Arosa in eastern Switzerland was accused of anti-Semitism after an outraged guest posted to Facebook a picture of a notice plastered outside the hotel pool.

“To our Jewish Guests, women, men and children, please take a shower before you go swimming,” it said, adding that “If you break the rules I’m forced to (close) the swimming pool for you.”

Another sign, this one on the refrigerator, said: “For our Jewish guests: You may access the refrigerator only in the following hours: 10:00-11:00 and 16:30-17:30. I hope you understand that our team does not like being disturbed all the time.”

Keidar had reported the signs to Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely who expressed outrage.

The hotel manager said the sign was poorly worded but rejected any accusations of anti-Semitism.

But Jewish rights group the Simon Wiesenthal Center has joined others voicing outrage at the incident, publishing a letter demanding that Switzerland “close hotel of hate and penalize its management.”

The center’s head of international relations, Shimon Samuels, points out that “the reference to ‘showers’ can be construed as a patently vicious reference to the fake shower (heads) in the gas chambers.”

— AFP