Greece’s Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis described the aggressive protests against Israeli visitors as shameful.
While tourism officials in Greece had been doing everything they could to welcome visitors from the Jewish State, Greece has become a popular destination for Israeli travelers. The mayor of Rhodes, Alexandros Koliadis, welcomed them with traditional sweets from the island of Rhodes.
Behind the facade of this welcome mat, politics unfortunately took over in spoiling a well-deserved holiday for so many well-meaning visitors from Israel.
Many of these holidaymakers tried to escape the constant threat of living in a war-torn country, but a country they loved and supported against all forces.
One of Israel’s closest friends in such challenging times has been the EU member country, Greece. IDF and the Greek military work in close alliance,
However, Greek authorities couldn’t keep some opposing citizens under control who didn’t go along with the ongoing genocide in Gaza and spilled anger towards innocent Israeli tourists arriving on a fun-filled Crown Iris cruise ship in Rhodes.
Riot police had a hard time keeping pro-Palestine protesters under control when the Israeli cruise ship docked in Greece.
מנו ספנות
צאו לחופשה מושלמת בחול עם מנו ספנות: נופש ברמת אירוח של 5 כוכבים, שייט הרחק מחופי הארץ, במימיו הכחולים של הים התיכון ליעדים האטרקטיביים ביותר באירופה
The same ship, which was forced away from Syros last Tuesday after a furious pro-Palestine protest, had been carrying around 650 Israeli tourists and arrived in Rhodes without delay.
Strong security measures had been put in place on the island as Greek authorities bid to prevent a repeat of Syros, where 1,700 Israeli tourists, including 300 to 400 children, were forced away last week. Several protesters were arrested, and others were restrained, while those unwelcome Israeli visitors sang patriotic songs showing the Israeli flag.
The same ship, which was forced away from Syros last Tuesday after a furious pro-Palestine protest, had been carrying around 650 Israeli tourists and arrived in Rhodes without delay.
Officials in Greece were quick to make public that this incident must neither harm our relations with Israel nor the love of Israeli tourists for Greece.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the Syros protests after more than 150 furiously demonstrated as the cruise ship attempted to disembark for a six-hour visit.
Protesters carried Palestinian flags, holding signs: ‘Stop the Genocide’
‘Inside the ship, we feel safe, but the children are a little stressed,’ one passenger told Israeli broadcaster Kan. A group called We Stay Active organised the protest.
In a social media post, protesters in Rhodes made it clear: ‘Residents and visitors to the island, especially soldiers, settlers, and supporters of the war and the occupation of Palestine, are unwanted on their island.’
The same ship, the Crown Iris, was used last month to transport Israeli nationals to and from Cyprus after Israel closed its airspace during its 12-day conflict with Iran. It has also been utilized as part of the country’s Operation Safe Return mission to repatriate citizens during times of conflict.
