At a time when Greece is facing a series of incidents against Israeli tourists, Greek authorities have come out publicly to reassure visitors and ensure their safety. Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni has condemned the violent and racist acts, while the country’s Jewish community has called for stronger measures after cases reported in Athens and other tourist areas.
“Racist and violent acts are punished in an exemplary manner, condemned completely and have no place in our democracy,” she said.
“Greece remains a completely safe, welcoming and open destination… for Israeli citizens and all other visitors,” the minister added.
Following the Gaza war, Greece has seen a series of protests against groups of Israeli tourists arriving by cruise ship, as well as incidents of harassment or violence against individual Israelis. Anti-Israel slogans have also appeared on the walls of Greek cities.
On Thursday, the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS) expressed deep concern over “the series of serious incidents that have recently occurred on the streets of Athens and other regions of the country, which aim to intimidate and terrorize tourists and Israeli citizens who wear Jewish symbols or speak Hebrew.”
The organization, known by its Greek acronym KIS, said these incidents “damage the image of Greece as a safe place for all.”
“Deeply disturbing are the actions of organized groups… which no longer hesitate to threaten physical violence, with slogans that evoke the most vulgar forms of Judeophobic propaganda, using the slanderous accusation of genocide to intimidate and terrorize people of the Jewish faith,” the CSI stated.
“Attacks on individuals with Israeli citizenship and on all those wearing Jewish symbols, as well as the blockades of Israeli tourists at various ports in the country, constitute a flagrant violation of the law and the principles of hospitality and freedom of movement,” the organization added.
The CIS called on the Greek state “to take all necessary measures to guarantee the protection of citizens and visitors from any form of racist or anti-Semitic violence and to bring the perpetrators to justice in Greece.