Club Med cancels cruise to Lebanon after Jewish groups protest exclusion of travelers to Israel

The French holiday company, Club Med,  has canceled the Lebanon leg of a cruise in the Mediterranean following protests from Jewish groups. Earlier, Club Med had warned that people with Israeli visas or stamps in their passports would not be allowed to board its cruise ship, the ‘Club Med II’, for the Lebanon-bound leg of the cruise as Lebanese authorities might bar them from entering the country.

The travel advisory drew a strong condemnation from the French Jewish umbrella group CRIF and other Jewish organizations.

"The message is sadly reminiscent of the exclusion policy of World War II Vichy France," the international relations director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Shimon Samuels, said in a letter to Club Med's chief executive. Club Med responded by canceling the Lebanon leg of the cruise. "It will be replaced by a new destination which will be announced soon,” a statement by the leading package travel operator said.