‘This is not the Austria I know,’ says Israeli envoy following anti-Israel incident

Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.

Israeli Ambassador to Austria David Roet says he is “outraged and heartbroken” by Israeli cellist Amit Peled’s account this morning that a waiter at a restaurant in Vienna refused to serve him and two fellow Israeli musicians after hearing them speak Hebrew.

Peled notes in a social media post that after the incident occurred on Friday, the nearby diners reacted with discomfort but ultimately resumed their meals in silence.

“That such a vile act could take place in 2025, in the heart of Europe, and in Vienna of all places, is beyond belief. THIS IS NOT THE AUSTRIA I KNOW,” Roet continues in a post on X.

“Condemnations are not enough. Action is needed,” Roet says further, saying he expects that the Austrian federal authorities and the city of Vienna to “respond swiftly and decisively.”

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