The Irish Ambassador to Israel, Mr Pat Hennessy, was yesterday on his way from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to extend the hand of friendship to Mr Arik Bender, the Israeli citizen refused holiday accommodation in Killarney.
The Irish Ambassador was doing so on behalf of Bord Fáilte, Mr John Rafferty, manager of customer communication services, said.
"Bord Fáilte are ensuring that anything possible is done to encourage this man to holiday in Ireland," Mr Rafferty said.
Mr Bender, an Israeli citizen, was refused accommodation in a leading holiday village in Killarney because of the Israeli government's treatment of the Palestinians.
Mr Bender had sought accommodation for three weeks at the four-star Killarney Lakeland Cottages for two families for next summer.
However, Mr Brian O'Shea, the owner, said he could not oblige because of the treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Sharon. Mr Bender, a parliamentary correspondent with the daily newspaper Maariv, was extremely upset over the rejection. He had expected a tourist destination such as Ireland which he had always wanted to visit "to be more open", he said. The rejection had reminded him "of some dark days in Europe".
Mr Rafferty described it as "an isolated incident" and the first of its kind. Irish tourism had been doing everything it could to encourage more business from Israel over the past number of years, he said. A new charter service from Tel Aviv to Dublin had begun two years ago and around 5,000 Israeli visitors a year were coming into Ireland.
If handled properly, the incident would not damage the Israeli tourism market and could turn in Ireland's favour, in fact.
Bord Fáilte was now offering to "facilitate" Mr Bender's trip to Ireland. A large number of private operators had contacted the organisation yesterday with offers of accommodation, and Bord Fáilte would bring Mr Bender and his party to Ireland.
Meanwhile, a campaign of "a hundred thousand welcomes" has begun in Kerry to make amends to Mr Bender and his family.
Ms Sandra McDonald, the owner of Crutch's Hillville House Hotel in Castlegregory, yesterday launched a campaign to collect the number of signatures in "a céad míle fáilte".
Ms McDonald is asking that people send a postcard addressed to Mr Arik Bender c/o Crutch's Hotel, Castlegregory. She will collect the cards in plastic envelopes and eventually forward them to Mr Bender.
"Over the past few years we have had a number of Israelis staying in our hotel and they are lovely people and are extremely important to us, especially in the off-season," she said.
Mr Frank Donaldson, acting chief executive of Cork Kerry tourism, said his organisation had assigned a staff member specifically to deal with Mr Bender.
"As a regional tourism authority, we don't question people on their nationality, or where they come from." Cork-Kerry Tourism with Cork Airport had sought to get direct charter flights from Tel Aviv to Cork and was still trying to do so, he said.
The Killarney tourism marketing organisation Killarney of The Welcomes said it also wished to emphasise it extended the hand of welcome to everyone, "without qualification".
Mr Bender said yesterday he had nothing against the Irish people. He had not made up his mind on whether to accept Bord Fáilte's offer or not.
Mr O'Shea is a member of a number of tourism organisations. He is well-respected in the tourism industry in Killarney and is one of the most experienced self-catering providers in the area.
His traditional cottages, rated four star, are popular among continentals as well as with Irish visitors.
Mr Gerry O'Grady, executive with Killarney of the Welcomes, of which Mr O'Shea is a member, said yesterday the organisation did not have a policy of mixing politics with business, unless the Government directed otherwise, "which was obviously not the case in this instance.
"However, if one of our members felt strongly about something, that really is a matter for himself."