"It could become explosive": The warning to Israelis ahead of the demonstrations in Greece
Ahead of the "Day of Rage" demonstrations in Greece, a tourism industry figure offers reassurance, claiming that the protests are barely felt on the ground. According to him, the risk to Israelis is very low, but provocations could ignite confrontations.
Sivan Zamir, founder and owner of the Israeli tourism website "Greece and the Islands," spoke on Sunday with Anat Davidov on 103FM ahead of the "Day of Rage" demonstrations in Greece. He addressed the situation on the ground and the concerns among Israelis.
"I am currently in peaceful and calm Athens," he said. "We haven't received anything from the media in Greece; they are not reporting on anything related to the demonstrations mentioned in Israel. I don't think it's much different from the protests that took place here last year—small, minor events that did not generate unusual headlines."
"I agree that the demonstrations in Thessaloniki, Athens, Heraklion, and other major destinations could be a bit larger, but these are people who want to express their political opinion, not protesters looking to confront someone. Therefore, I understand the warning from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs," he noted.
According to Zamir, despite the protests, Israeli tourism in the country continues as usual. "The risk to Israelis in Greece is generally zero; they really love us and the Israeli identity. This is evidenced by the nearly 200,000 Israelis currently enjoying their vacation in Greece. August is the peak of the season, and many Israelis are enjoying themselves and not feeling these protests. However, because of past events, where a certain type of Israeli has a desire to prove something to the Greeks and the protesters, it could become explosive if Israelis who are close to those centers provoke them."
"We have no reason to provoke in a place where it is not needed, especially when talking about minor demonstrations by a Greek minority. There is no reason to turn this into something bigger than it is," he added. "The demonstrations will be at Monastiraki Square in Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion in Crete, and several other cities, but I don't think we are talking about events with more than 100 or 200 protesters."
"We are traveling as usual, speaking Hebrew, and not hiding our identity. In most cases, we are even received with appreciation and love, especially after October 7, because the Greeks really recognize and experience with us, in their own way, what happened then. Even in restaurants, everything is completely normal."
When asked about cases where Israelis encountered hostile treatment in restaurants in Greece, he replied: "I cannot say that such a thing does not exist at all, although it is a small minority in Greece. Such situations can arise mainly in tourist destinations, but in the general routine of Greece, it is not felt."
