Athens: “We owe an apology to these friends of Greece who chose to spend their holidays here and were forcibly denied it by some,” Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis wrote on the social media platform X. “Our country remains hospitable to all and antisemitism has no place here!”
According to Deutsche Welle, his comments came in response to last Tuesday’s protests on the island of Syros, where around 300 demonstrators assembled at the island’s port carrying Palestinian flags and a large banner that said, “Stop the genocide.” The protesters were there to meet the MS Crown Iris, a ship owned by the Israeli cruise line, Mano Maritime. The protest was organized by locals who wanted to show that it wasn’t acceptable to greet Israeli tourists while Palestinians in Gaza were starving due to Israel’s blockade on aid entering the occupied territory.
Dockworkers unions have also spoken out against military shipments, with incidents such as one on July 16 when dockworkers and activists tried to prevent the unloading of steel meant for military purposes in Israel. The activists claimed the cargo was transferred from one ship, the Ever Golden, to another, the Cosco Shipping Pisces, in an attempt to keep the cargo “under the radar.” The dockworkers union stated they wouldn’t allow the port to become a base for any military actions. Similar protest actions occurred in October 2024, with expectations of continuation.
The episode on Syros has sparked heated debate in Greece. Many locals view the protest as racist, with some calling the demonstrators “shameless fascists.” Others supported the demonstrators, insisting that Israeli tourists should be informed about their government’s actions in Gaza. Those siding with Israel have accused others of antisemitism, despite some right-wing extremists traditionally being antisemitic themselves but now admiring Israel’s military strength.
Political opinions influence support, with opinion polls indicating that just under half of all locals remain neutral about the conflict in Gaza. A survey by the Eteron Institute for Research and Social Change in late April revealed that just over 40% of participants supported neither side. Among those with a preference, 30% favored the Palestinian side, and 17.6% favored Israel. This is a notable change from November 2023 when 34% supported Israel after the Hamas-led attacks on October 7.
Israel and Greece have enjoyed a long-lasting alliance, with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a member of New Democracy, supporting Israel without reservation and calling Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu “his friend.” Mitsotakis visited Netanyahu in Israel even after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest for crimes against humanity and war crimes. For a long time, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has attempted to maintain a more balanced stance, remaining in contact with Palestinian leadership and supporting a two-state solution.
The relationship between the two countries has grown closer, especially in economic, energy, and military cooperation. For Israelis, Greece remains an attractive vacation spot due to its geographical proximity, and Greek culture, including food and music, is popular in Israel. Many Greek artists regularly perform in Israel, though this has not been without controversy, as evidenced by the backlash faced by popular singer Glykeria after announcing her performance there.