Resort Manager in Southern France Arrested After Refusing Entry to Israeli Children

In southern France, a manager of a resort in the town of Porté‑Puymorens has been arrested after denying entry to a group of approximately 150 Israeli children, aged 8 to 16, citing his ‘personal beliefs’ while refusing to honor their prior reservation. This incident was reported by Ouest‑France, and later echoed in other media outlets.

The group had booked their stay well in advance, but upon arrival, the 52-year-old resort manager prevented them from entering the premises. His actions led to police involvement, and he has been detained on suspicion of ‘religious discrimination in the provision of services or goods’—a serious offense under French law that carries a potential maximum sentence of three years in prison.

Local authorities confirmed that the Israeli group was subsequently relocated by police to an alternate site. The resort manager has no known criminal record, according to initial reports.

This incident comes amidst a broader climate of rising anti-Israel sentiment across Europe, including reports of increasing antisemitic incidents. Authorities have opened an official investigation into the resort manager’s actions.