First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the general manager of the Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel demanding that the hotel fulfill its contractual obligation to host the 2024 Israel Summit next week.
The Israel Summit, expected to be held on May 20-22, was originally planned to be hosted at the hotel until hotel leadership contacted one of the summit’s sponsors, HaYovel, notifying the group that they were dropping their contract to host the event, citing “threatening” calls and messages.
In a letter to Troy Carver, the general manager at the Sonesta Hotel, First Liberty Institute – which represents HaYovel – said the hotel’s decision to drop its contract to host the summit is “unlawful religious discrimination in a place of public accommodation.”
“HaYovel respectfully requests you fulfill your contractual obligations as agreed and provide HaYovel express written affirmation that you will do so. Failure to provide the written affirmation and fulfill the Contract may result in legal action against the Sonesta and all other responsible parties,” the letter said.
First Liberty Institute requested that the hotel respond with “written assurance” it will reverse course and hold the summit by Tuesday, May 14.
The three-day Israel Summit is a “gathering of pro-Israel advocates affirming Israel’s unconditional sovereignty over their entire land,” which will include speeches from more than 15 guests, a gala dinner, vendors, conference sessions, film screenings, and a musical performance.
In addition to HaYovel, the summit is also sponsored by Israel365, The Israel Guys, and Keep God’s Land.
Local groups including Palestine Hurra Collective Nashville, a pro-Palestine group, and Nour Nashville, a community organizing group that advocates for the “Palestine cause,” were among the organizations that publicly called for its members to call the Sonesta Hotel’s general manager and demand they make the decision to back out of hosting the Israel Summit.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Sonesta Suites Nashville Airport” by Sonesta Suites.
