An award-winning pizzeria in Fürth, Bavaria, has provoked widespread condemnation after displaying a sign on its door declaring Israeli citizens unwelcome. The sign, which remained up for several hours on Sunday, was described by the Jewish Community of Fürth (IKG Fürth) as a deeply offensive and discriminatory act, bearing disturbing echoes of the Nazi era, reports The Jerusalem Post.
The statement posted by Pizza Zulu claimed to be a protest against Israel but made no distinction between government actions and ordinary individuals. It read: “Israeli citizens are not welcome in this establishment. Of course, they will be welcome again as soon as they decide to open their eyes, ears, and hearts.”
The sign insisted the protest was “not political, let alone racist”, while simultaneously excluding an entire nationality.
The language and tone of the notice were widely condemned. Julia Tschekalina, chairwoman of IKG Fürth, said it reminded her of the persecution of Jews under the Nazi regime.
Stephan Doll, chair of the Alliance Against Right-Wing Extremism in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region, called the sign “pure antisemitism,” adding: “This sign commemorates the darkest times in our history.”
Following a wave of public outrage, the sign was taken down, and the Nuremberg-Fürth public prosecutor’s office launched a preliminary investigation into whether the pizzeria’s actions violated German hate speech laws.
On Thursday, the pizzeria’s owner, Gaspare Squitieri, issued a written apology, admitting he had crossed a line: “I now understand why this notice was not only seen as a political statement, but as antisemitic… Even though that was never my intention, I recognise that it reopened deep wounds for many people.”
He explained that his aim had been to protest war and suffering, particularly that of children, but acknowledged that excluding people based on nationality was wrong. “I take full responsibility,” he wrote.
Pizza Zulu also posted on Instagram that Squitieri “detests antisemitism” and has always stood against the killing of innocents. However, IKG Fürth expressed doubts about the sincerity of the apology, noting that the restaurant’s social media account had liked comments dismissing the backlash as a “smear campaign” or claiming people were “unable to handle the truth.”
The restaurant has since received support from pro-Palestinian organisations, including Palemanya and Rise for Gaza Nürnberg, which urged supporters to flood the pizzeria with positive reviews and show up in person. Palemanya praised the owner’s “courage,” saying: “Because he had the courage to speak out against genocide and to act humanely, he is now being massively attacked.”
The Fürth case follows a similar incident in Flensburg, where a shopkeeper displayed a sign barring Jews from entering in response to the Israel–Gaza war. The Flensburg Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Monday that it had launched an investigation into the shopkeeper on suspicion of incitement to hatred.
These cases highlight a disturbing resurgence of antisemitic rhetoric and exclusionary practices in Germany, under the guise of political protest. Jewish leaders and rights groups warn that conflating Jews or Israelis collectively with geopolitical events not only fuels discrimination but also echoes dangerous historical precedents.
Photo credit: Jewish Community of Fürth
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