Said Farhart, the president of the government tourist organization, has confirmed that some 2000 American Jews have cancelled their reservations in the five star hotels here as a protest against Brazil’s vote in the UN General Assembly for the resolution equating Zionism with racism. Thomas Mendelsohn, manager of Rio’s Sheraton Hotel, said three American travel agencies canceled more than 600 reservations during the Christmas-New Year’s holiday and some, 800 reservations for 1977. More than 500 reservations were cancelled at Rio’s Intercontinental Hotel, it was reported.
Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R.NY), who ended his three-day visit to Brazil, described the cancellations as “individuals’ reactions” and not an organized boycott. The anti-Zionist vote by Brazil and the tourist cancellations were reportedly discussed at meetings between Javits and Gen. Golbery do Couto e Silva, chief of President Ernesto Geisel’s civil cabinet, and Foreign Minister Azeredo da Silveira.
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