(Hebrew edition: http://www.haaretz.co.il/opinions/.premium-1.2290662)
As an
active member of the Jewish community in Chile, a small minority making up only
0.1% of our country's population, far too often I have had to step up and
defend you, Israeli tourists, as well as other Jews visiting here. I have been
part of different Jewish groups and organizations all whom have seen their
members waste energy, time and money trying to “clean-up” Israel’s image. I am
tired, and I believe I am not the only one.
When you,
Israelis considering travelling to Latin America, talk to your compatriots who
have made a similar trip, you have probably heard or read more than once about
Israelis who have been thrown out of a national park, or refused accommodation;
they may have mentioned the lack of help from local residents and other
difficulties they might have experienced during their post-army trip.
Every
month there are more and more headlines, Facebook statuses, and blogs
mentioning Israeli tourists. Sadly, they don’t describe Israelis as harmless,
friendly and sociable tourists, but as harmful, aggressive, unsociable,
disrespectful ones. They demonstrate an astonishing lack of education and
respect.
December
2011: An Israeli was arrested on suspicion of having started a forest fire in
Torres del Paine that consumed 16,000
hectares of land. November 2012: Two Israeli tourists were thrown
out of the park for camping in an unauthorized area - a protected wilderness
between Refugio Grey and Campamento Guardas, even after they had signed a
document clearly indicating that this was forbidden.
December
2012: Five Israelis were expelled from the Torres del Paine for illegally
lighting a fire. The same month, four Israelis were kicked out of the park for
ignoring the ranger’s instructions and provoking a disturbance in the camping
area.
To this
we can add the naked Israeli posing for pictures in Machu Picchu, a sacred
place for the Inca; Israelis “forgetting” bullets in their backpacks while
traveling to India; and –most recently - the orgy-party in Mulluqocha, a
Peruvian archeological park, where 60 Israelis were found with drugs, alcohol,
spray paint and loud music, as well as 21 ancient Incan
ceramic pieces. I could continue.
Hatred
towards Jews, political campaigns tinged with anti-Semitic, and conspiracy
theories positing Israeli backpackers as 'scouts' checking out land in South
America to establish a new Jewish state (the notorious
'Plan Andinia') are long-term staples of life in the Diaspora - but
they are growing. That is why we do hasbara and why we fight anti-Semitism all
over the world.
I know
that many Jews around the world (including Israelis) do their utmost to
transmit a good and positive image of Israel, but when this is followed up by
young Israeli tourists flouting legal and cultural norms, it neutralizes the
hours of work put into this.
I have
been to Israel several times and I resent the lack of “please” and “thank you,”
but this goes a step further. When you come to Latin America, or visit other
countries around the world, remember one thing, Israeli tourists: This is not
your country. You are in someone else’s home.
An
Israeli tourist is an ambassador, but undoubtedly they are creating more harm
than good to Jewish communities abroad. Israeli tourists, when you're planning
your big trip, please, remember that you go back to Israel, but we are the ones
that stay and have to deal with the aftermath you have left, and we are tired.
