The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece issued a statement condemning the widespread and persistent demonisation of the State of Israel throughout the country
“We may be repeating ourselves! Unfortunately, reality confirms our concerns. The rhetoric of violence has already turned into the practice of violence.
The streets of Athens and other cities are filled with slogans calling for the destruction of the state of Israel, for the mass murder of Israeli citizens and Jews who defend the Zionist idea, namely Israel’s right to exist as an equal member of the community of nations. They do not criticize the government of Israel, they demonize its citizens and attempt to delegitimize their rights precisely because they are Jewish.
This very climate of demonization—artfully cultivated in the streets through posters and graffiti, which many municipal authorities tolerate and even encourage—inevitably leads to the cultivation of a particular kind of intolerance against any Israeli citizen and any Jew who refuses to renounce Israel’s right to exist.
We reiterate that criticism, even harsh criticism, of the actions of the Israeli government and the statements of its officials does not constitute antisemitism. Yet, this kind of criticism does not seem to be enough for them.
Thus, in Naxos, Jews were expelled from a restaurant and were scorned by patrons with insults. As author Xenophon A. Brountzakis aptly wrote in his article in The Books’ Journal: “…But this is what makes one’s blood run cold: the scene resembles a pogrom, where the crowd applauded the persecution. When the mob rejoices in seeing others humiliated, it does not prove the truth of the stronger. It proves the nakedness of civilization.”
Images and incidents reminiscent of the pogroms of Tsarist Russia in the 19th century undermine democracy and the rule of law. Tolerance toward antisemitism and hate speech has no place in modern Greek society, and we are confident that Greece will remain a safe country for all its citizens and a welcoming country for all its visitors, regardless of color, race, gender, or religion.”
