Greek Government Takes Tough Stance on Protests Against Israeli Tourists
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has engaged in discussions with Greek counterpart Giorgos Gerapetritis regarding escalating protests against Israeli tourists in Greece. The Athens government has committed to implementing stricter anti-racist laws to address the unrest, reports 24brussels.
“Anyone who attempts to prevent a third-country national from entering the country legally will be prosecuted, arrested and subsequently subject to criminal proceedings under anti-racism legislation,” stated Greek Minister for Public Order Michalis Chrisochoidis.
On Tuesday afternoon, demonstrators displayed a large Palestinian flag and vocally supported their cause as passengers from the cruise ship Crown Iris disembarked for tours of the island. According to local media, confrontations erupted between the protesters and riot police, prompting officers to use pepper spray to disperse the crowd, resulting in the arrest of four individuals.
This confrontation marks the third incident involving protests in a week. The previous day, a similar clash occurred when another cruise ship carrying 600 Israeli tourists docked in Rhodes, leading to 13 detentions during the protests.
Last Tuesday, as the Crown Iris reached the island of Syros, its passengers remained on board due to protests at the port. Some individuals on the ship responded by waving Israeli flags and chanting against the demonstrators, leading to the cruise’s eventual departure to Cyprus. The incidents underline the rising tensions surrounding Israeli tourism in Greece amidst ongoing geopolitical issues.
