Athens Mayor Irked By Israeli Envoy’s Reference to Antisemitic Graffiti

Criticism by the Israeli ambassador to Greece that Athens municipal authorities aren’t doing enough to clean up antisemitic graffiti in their jurisdiction drew an angry response by the Greek capital’s mayor a day later.

Ambassador Noam Katz was quoted in an interview published by the Athens daily “Kathimerini” as saying that Israeli tourists feel “uncomfortable” in Athens because Mayor Haris Doukas has not acted against “organized minorities” who scrawl graffiti and “tags” with anti-Israel and antisemitic messages.

Greece, similar to other European countries, has witnessed a number of pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel street protests, mostly organized by left-wing to far-left groups. A cruise ship hosting mostly Israeli tourists was unable to dock at one island destination last week due to an onshore protest at the quayside, as authorities cited a security risk.

Doukas responded within hours on X: “Athens, the capital of a democratic country, fully respects its visitors and supports the right of free expression of its citizens.

“As the city’s municipal authority, we have demonstrated our active opposition to violence and racism, and we do not accept lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians and children lining up for food; from those who cause the death of dozens of people every day in Gaza from bombs, hunger and thirst.

“It is appalling that the Ambassador focuses only on graffiti (which is obviously being wiped off), while an unprecedented genocide is taking place in Gaza. I should also inform the Ambassador that in the last year the number of Israelis granted Greek Golden Visas has increased by more than 90%.”

While the city of Athens is one of many municipalities in the greater Athens-Piraeus agglomeration, it is the largest and most populous and hosts most of the tourist sites in the area.