Greek Tourism Minister Assures Israelis of Safety Amid Rising Anti-Israel Incidents

Following a series of incidents targeting Israelis in Greece, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni sought to reassure Israeli tourists about their safety in the country. She emphasized that Greece remains a completely safe, welcoming destination for Israeli visitors and all others, and that authorities will not tolerate any attacks motivated by nationality, race, or religion. "Racist and violent acts are punished severely, condemned outright, and have no place in our democracy," Kefalogianni stated.

Her remarks came a day after the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS), the official body representing Greek Jewry, issued a warning about escalating hostile incidents against Israelis and Jews. KIS reported a series of serious events in Athens and other areas aimed at intimidating Israeli tourists and those displaying Jewish symbols or speaking Hebrew. They highlighted organized groups openly threatening physical violence and using anti-Jewish propaganda, including accusations of genocide against Jews and Israelis as a means of intimidation.

KIS stressed that these attacks go beyond protests against Israeli government policies, constituting blatant violations of law and hospitality principles, including blocking Israeli tourists at various ports. The council called on the Greek government to take all necessary measures to protect citizens and tourists from racist and antisemitic violence and to bring perpetrators to justice.

The concerns arose amid protests against Israeli cruise ship visitors and reports of harassment and violence against individual Israelis, alongside anti-Israel graffiti appearing in Greek cities. Despite these warnings, veteran Israeli tourism expert Sivan Zamir, who lives in Greece and runs a travel company, supported the minister’s assurances. He noted that over 200,000 Israelis are currently in Greece enjoying their vacations without experiencing antisemitism, and that the Jewish community council’s warnings do not reflect the majority of Israelis’ experiences in the country.

The Greek government’s firm stance aims to maintain Greece’s image as a safe tourist destination and to ensure that any violence against Israelis is promptly addressed by authorities.