The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece expresses the deep concern of the Greek Jews over the recent unprecedented and rampant increase in incidents targeting Jewish sites in various cities across Greece.
The Holocaust Monument in Larissa was desecrated, as was the Memorial dedicated to the Old Jewish Cemetery at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and an antisemitic inscription was drawn on the wall of the Jewish cemetery in Volos.
Such incidents are accompanied by extreme rhetoric that has led to acts of crude violence, including attacks on tourists, verbal assaults, acts of vandalism, and the ongoing targeting of individuals who are often labeled as “murderers” solely on the basis of their national or religious identity.
We reiterate that criticism of the government of Israel, no matter how severe, does not constitute antisemitic behavior. However, the sweeping, ahistorical, and categorical characterizations of Israeli citizens as murderers, Nazis, and unwelcome in Greece is a vulgar and unacceptable hate-filled rhetoric that threatens the well-being of Greek Jewish citizens and endangers the safety of foreign citizens of Jewish faith who, for any reason, reside in or visit our country.
The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece calls upon the State, regional, and municipal authorities to condemn these phenomena and take all necessary measures to protect the lives of Greek citizens of Jewish faith as well as the Jewish visitors.
It is imperative that a clear message of zero tolerance be sent against the rising tide of Judeophobia in our country, which unquestionably leads to antisemitism. History teaches us that antisemitism may begin by targeting the Jews, but it never ends with the Jews. It undermines the values of freedom and culture of the entire society.
