Ilha Verde, an inn in Itacaré, Bahia, said it would not host former Israeli military members involved in the war in Gaza. (Foto: Instagram)
Ilha Verde, an inn in Itacaré, in the Brazilian state of Bahia, announced on Nov. 13 that it would not host former Israeli military members who were involved in the war in the Gaza Strip. The decision came amid recent tensions between Israeli visitors and local residents. Israeli organizations in Brazil have described the incidents as prejudice against Israeli citizens.
The inn said it opposed violence, oppression and war crimes. In a statement, it declared, “War criminals are not welcome here,” adding that people who commit acts of violence or incite, support or justify them would also not be accepted. In a separate post, Ilha Verde said it welcomes people of every nationality, religion and background, while opposing genocide, war crimes, violence and human rights violations. The inn said its position was against crimes and rights violations, “never against a people.”
The announcement followed a dispute over an artistic mural in Itacaré that included pro-Palestinian phrases. Israeli tourists visiting the town objected to one slogan, “From the river to the sea,” and accused local artists of antisemitism. The phrase is associated with a call for a single Palestinian state across the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, including present-day Israel, which is governed by Benjamin Netanyahu.
The article also noted that some Israelis use the term “Greater Israel” to call for Jewish sovereignty over the entire area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. A group of Israeli tourists tried to remove the mural’s paintings and posters. After the confrontation and pressure from the visitors, the property owner decided to paint over the building’s facade. The owner said he had allowed artwork tied to the town’s identity, but not political messages. Some local residents and pro-Palestinian activists have characterized the episode as “predatory tourism.”
Separately, Israeli tourists have been named in a sexual harassment complaint in Salvador that is under investigation by the Civil Police of Bahia. On Nov. 9, lawmakers from Psol appealed to the federal government to investigate the case and also called for measures to prevent such incidents and protect victims. The source does not provide further details about the complaint or the investigation.
StandWithUs Brasil and other organizations working against antisemitism have viewed the incidents in Bahia as prejudice against Israeli citizens. The state’s tourist destinations, including Itacaré and Morro de São Paulo, have received large numbers of Israeli visitors for several years. Many make the trip after completing mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces.
