Book report in local Indian media
Book in India: Israelis crooks, drug addicts
Catholic priest in Goa publishes book on 'dealing with tourists from Israel,' whom he calls 'druggies' that make real nuisance. He claims Israelis behave this way because they 'go crazy from military service'
This is the impression that young Israelis leave behind in Goa: Indian media outlets reported Sunday on a new book published by a Catholic priest in Goa, a tourist hot spot, that purportedly describes the behavior of tourists from Israel and "ways to deal with them."
'The night here never ends. They (Israelis) just party with trance music and get intoxicated with drugs and alcohol. They kiss and touch each other openly. They also appear to switch partners," the book claims.
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The book, 'Claiming the right to say no: a study of Israeli tourist behavior and patterns in Goa', is 96 pages authored by 11 seminarians or priests-in-training working under the tutelage of Goa archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao.
In the opening chapter, brother Myron Jeson Barretto described how the priests studied Israelis tourists in undercover operations and said: "We had to follow them as the cat follows the rat."
The priests explain Israelis' behavior citing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and their military service. In a chapter called "The Sababa experience," the book claims "Can you imagine young boys killing people. They (Israelis) go mad while in the services. The government sends these people to relaxation hubs. One of them is Goa."
"They (Israelis) are a nuisance to everybody in and around Palolem (a popular beach in south Goa). Their dominating nature and other monkey business drives away other tourists. So why do we need them?" quipped the book.
Ivar Fjeld, a Norwegian journalist who has worked for many years in India, said in conversation with Ynet that he was shocked to read reports on the book in the local news.
"This is the first time I saw the rhetoric that the Nazis used in an Indian publication. I met Israeli tourists in Goa and have worked closely with them. An Israeli tourist told me she doesn't feel safe there and that there is a sense of growing anti-Semitism, so much so that many visitors are afraid to reveal their Israeli identity," Fjeld said.
According to Fjeld, the report indicates a direct impact from the political situation: "I think it is related to the escalation in relations with Israel and the Jews throughout the world. There is a sense that Israelis are not receiving the affection they need to feel when they arrive in various place throughout the world, including India."
- Initial information received via Red Mail
