Israeli Couple Faces Antisemitic Harassment and Threats During Vienna Vacation
An Israeli couple from Ashkelon experienced a terrifying antisemitic incident in Vienna when a man banged on their Airbnb door shouting slogans. They relocated to a hotel with local help.
Antisemitic Incident Interrupts Israeli Couple's Vacation in Vienna
A romantic getaway for an Israeli couple from Ashkelon turned into a terrifying ordeal in Vienna over the weekend. Hadar and Hen Berti rented an Airbnb apartment in a quiet, seemingly safe neighborhood near a synagogue, only to experience targeted antisemitic harassment.
On Saturday at approximately 18:00, an unknown individual began violently banging on their apartment door, demanding entry. When Hen asked who was there, the suspect reportedly began shouting anti-Israel slogans.
We felt completely unsafe, I started crying. When we heard him walking down the stairs, we looked out the window and saw him hiding with tools, waiting for us to come out, recounted Hadar.
Police Inaction and Relocation to a Hotel
The shaken couple immediately contacted local authorities. Although police officers responded to the initial call, they reportedly showed little concern when the suspect returned and the couple called again in panic.
Fearing for their safety, the couple reached out to a local Israeli expatriate group via social media. Another Israeli couple living in Vienna quickly came to their aid, driving them to a secure hotel.
Furthermore, the Airbnb host refused to issue a refund for the remaining nights, displaying a lack of empathy regarding the security incident. Despite the ruined vacation and financial loss, the couple expressed gratitude for the community support that helped them escape a potentially disastrous situation.
