ATHENS – Despite Israel increasingly being isolated over growing starvation in the Gaza Strip it invaded, Greece said it will not back away from support for its business ally although there’s growing anger in the European Union over the conflict.
Greece also is dealing with Israel over energy cooperation and sees the country as a balance against Turkey, which is gaining influence in the American government of President Donald Trump, who has supported Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu.
At the same time, Greece is urging Israel, which has killed Palestinians in food lines with strikes to allow humanitarian aid into the country although there are reports much of it is being stolen.
While other countries, including France and Canada, are moving toward recognizing a Palestinian state, Greece has gone only as far as supporting United Nations calls for Palestinian rights.
Israel invaded the Gaza Strip in a hunt for Hamas terrorists who killed more than 1200 people in October, 2023 raids, including children and babies but the conflict in Gaza has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians during its invasion.
There’s been a backlash in Greece against Israelis though with tourists from that country being harassed and even kept from landing on some Greek islands and being hassled on Syros and Rhodes, which are losing bookings from Israel.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas is upset with Israeli Ambassador Noam Katz though who criticized the city’s leaders for not doing more to get rid of anti-semitic graffiti that supports Palestinians.
Katz acknowledged Greece is trying to maintain a balance during the conflict but said there shouldn’t be any hostility toward Israeli tourists over the conflicts and that they are being stigmatized.
In a post on X, Doukas condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide while also rejecting Katz’s accusations regarding municipal inaction on antisemitic graffiti in Athens, and the mayor didn’t hold back.
“We do not accept lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians. Athens, the capital of a democratic country, fully respects its visitors and upholds the right of its citizens to free expression. As the city’s municipal authority, we have proven our active opposition to violence and racism,” Doukas said.
“We do not accept lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians and children waiting in line for food aid, from those who lead dozens of people to death every day in Gaza, through bombs, hunger, and thirst,” he added.
“It is appalling that the Ambassador focuses solely on graffiti (which is being removed) at a time when an unprecedented genocide is taking place in Gaza,” he said, adding that Golden Visas granted to Israeli citizens have increased by more than 90 percent, giving them residency permits and passports.
