A group of Israeli tourists on a trip to Kerala’s Thekkady were kicked out of a shop after the owner realised their nationality. The incident happened on Wednesday after the tourists entered the shop on the invite of the vendors to check the artefacts on sale there.
The tourists, a man and a woman, were reportedly strolling through the prominent tourist destination when the shopkeepers invited them inside. The vendors were Kashmiris who sell curious in the tourist spot. On realising that they were from Israel, the irate shopkeepers asked them to leave. They also switched off all the lights in the shop.
The humiliated Israeli tourists immediately alerted their driver, following which he alerted the traders’ outfit. The nearby shopkeepers also intervened in the issue, following which the Kashmiri shopowners had to apologise to the couple.
A video of the incident and the vendors’ apology for the act went viral on social media.
Police officials said they were aware of the incident but no legal action has been initiated as the Israelis have not filed a complaint.
The incident comes as reports that Israelis are being targetted in several tourist spots, including Thailand and Sri Lanka. A few days ago, Israeli spy agency Mossad confirmed that there was information about threats targetting Israeli tourists in Thailand. The Thai police too had sounded an alarm that Israeli tourists may be targeted in a potential terror attack. The warning came just ahead of the November 15 Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan Island, an event popular among young Israelis.
Last month, three people were arrested in Sri Lanka too over possible threats to Israeli tourists. Sri Lankan officials said they arrested three people, all Sri Lankan nationals, in this regard. The US Embassy in Sri Lanka and Israel’s National Security Council too had warned their citizens against visiting Arugam Bay, a popular surf destination.
Israel also told its citizens to immediately leave Arugam Bay and the south and west coastal areas of Sri Lanka and instructed people to avoid public displays of anything that could be identified as Israeli, including clothing with Hebrew writing or religious symbols.
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