Panaji, Dec 11 (Inditop.com) Portraying Israeli tourists as a bunch of promiscuous, stingy, drug addicts and peddlers, a new book published by a church-affiliated organisation in Goa is likely to ruffle many feathers.
The 96-page work, “Claiming the right to say no: a study of Israeli tourist behaviour and patterns in Goa”, has been authored by 11 seminarians or priests-in-grooming. It has been published by the Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), an arm of the Roman Catholic church in the state.
Based largely on an undercover survey carried out by priests-in-grooming, it likens tracking down Israelis in the state to a cat and mouse game.
In the opening chapter, brother Myron Jeson Barretto says: “On third evening we went to Anjuna. We got the news that the Israelis have moved to Arambol. And we had to follow them as the cat follows the rat.”
Officially released by the Goa archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao Sunday, the book critiques the behaviour of Israeli tourists. Its copies are available for sale at several church-supported outlets.
“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,” brother Manuel D’Souza says.
One of the book’s stated objectives is to “understand how the conflict in Israel/Palestine creates the exodus of people in form of tourists” to places like Goa and also tries to “understand patterns of tourist behaviour in Goa, because of their recent military experiences”.
Brother D’Souza states in his chapter “The Sababa experience”: “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?” brother Onasis D’Cruz says in one of the chapters, accusing Israelis of creating tourist ghettos in the state.
“In Vagator, there is a beach which is called as ‘Israeli beach’ just below the 9 Bar. Non-Israelis are frightened to come over to this place,” Brother Mario Fernandes says.
Tourists from Israel, along with those from Britain, Russia and Germany, top the number of tourists arriving in Goa every tourist season. Out of the two million tourists coming to the state each year, nearly 450,000 are foreigners.
