Outrage after hotel asks Jews to shower before swimming

Israel’s foreign minister has condemned a Swiss hotel’s decision to post a sign asking Jewish guests to shower before using the pool as “an anti-Semitic act of the worst and ugliest kind”.

The allegedly discriminatory shower sign, posted by Apartmenthaus Paradies in the alpine village of Arose, Switzerland, sparked outrage after it was featured on Israel’s Channel 2 TV, the Times of Israel reports.

“Everyone had been very nice to us. Suddenly we came down and saw the sign, we were in shock,” an Israeli guest told Channel 2.

“To our Jewish guests, women, men and children, please take a shower before you go swimming,” the sign reads.

“If you break the rules I’m forced to cloes [sic] the swimming pool for you.”

A second sign advised Jewish guests they were restricted to using a refrigerator at select times.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely has since confirmed she had spoken with Israel’s ambassador to Switzerland about the “anti-Semitic” incident.

The signs have reportedly since been removed, however Ms Hotovely believes those responsible for it should be punished.

“Unfortunately, anti-Semitism in Europe is still a reality and we must make sure that the punishment for incidents such as these will serve as deterrents for those who still harbour the germ of anti-Semitism,” she told Israel’s Channel 2 news.

Apartmenthaus Paradies management has insisted it did not harbour “anti-Semitic intent” and has “no problem with Jewish guests staying at the hotel”.

Manager Ruth Thomann told Israel’s Channel 2 the first sign was hung due to the fact some Jewish guests had failed to follow general pool rules, which stipulate guests must take a shower before using the pool.

She added that the second sign was hung on a freezer due to the fact the Jewish guests – some of whom are Orthodox Jews – were using a worker’s refrigerator to store kosher food, the BBC understands.