Latest news with #Doukas
Roya News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Athens Mayor fires back at 'Israeli' ambassador over Graffiti dispute
A diplomatic row has erupted between Athens Mayor Haris Doukas and 'Israeli' Ambassador Noam Katz, sparked by the ambassador's public criticism regarding the city's handling of 'antisemitic' graffiti. The exchange escalated quickly, with Mayor Doukas accusing Israel of "unprecedented genocide" in Gaza, dismissing the graffiti concerns as "marginal details". Ambassador Katz initiated the dispute in an interview with Greek daily Kathimerini on Sunday, August 3, 2025, stating that 'Israeli' visitors felt "uncomfortable" in Athens due to 'antisemitic' slogans like 'Expel all Israelis' and 'Kill the Zionists, save lives'. He accused city authorities of inaction against "organized minorities" responsible for the vandalism, warning it sent a "dangerous message of tolerance for Jew-hatred". Mayor Doukas swiftly responded on X (formerly Twitter), declaring, "We don't need lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians". 'Athens, the capital of a democratic country, fully respects its visitors and supports the right of free expression of its citizens,' Doukas continued. 'We do not accept lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians and children in food lines, from those who lead dozens of people to death in Gaza every day, from bombs, hunger and thirst,' he added. 'It is appalling that Mr. Ambassador focuses only on graffiti (which is apparently being erased), while an unprecedented genocide is being carried out in Gaza,' Doukas said before finally pointing out that the number 'of Israelis who have been granted a Greek Golden Visa has increased by over 90%'. While the Athens Municipality announced plans in August 2024 to upgrade its anti-graffiti service and launch a new cleanliness app, Jewish organizations note "inconsistent" cleanup efforts, particularly in central Athens.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Yoel Romero gets date, opponent for BKFC debut
Yoel Romero has inked his bareknuckle boxing debut. The former UFC title challenger is set to make his first appearance for BKFC against Theo Doukas at BKFC 80 on Sept. 12 at Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The bout will be contested at heavyweight. The news of Romero's debut was announced by the promotion on Tuesday. Romero, 48, signed with BKFC in July. He was coming off two KO finishes competing in Mike Perry's Dirty Boxing Championship – which is a striking competition with small gloves but doesn't involve any grappling or groundwork. "The Soldier of God" is mainly known for his 10-year run in the UFC where he fought for the middleweight title multiple times and cemented himself as one of the world's best. After his UFC departure, Romero had a short stint with Bellator and PFL, going 3-2. Although now competing in bareknuckle boxing, Romero told MMA Junkie last month that he's still looking to continue his MMA career. Romero's opponent, Doukas, will also be making his BKFC debut. Doukas has competed four times in MMA, going 2-2. His two victories have come by way of stoppage. He last competed in MMA in April 2024 and was submitted in the second round. He's also 1-0 in boxing.
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Athens mayor clashes with Israel ambassador over antisemitic graffiti
The mayor of Athens became embroiled in a war of words Sunday with the Israeli ambassador to Greece who accused city authorities of not doing enough to clean up antisemitic graffiti. Ambassador Noam Katz told the Kathimerini daily in comments published Sunday that Israeli tourists felt "uncomfortable" in Athens because the mayor Haris Doukas does not act against "organised minorities" who put up anti-Jewish graffiti. Doukas responded within hours on X: We have proved our strong opposition to violence and racism and we do not take lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians." "Athens, capital of a democratic country, fully respects its visitors and supports the right of free expression of its citizens," the Socialist PASOK party mayor added. "It is revolting that the ambassador concentrates on graffiti (that is clearly wiped off ) while an unprecedented genocide is taking place in Gaza," Doukas added. Greece, as well as several other European nations, has seen a number of left-wing led pro-Palestinian demonstrations. A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists around the Greek islands was greeted by demonstrations in several ports. While following a pro-Arab policy for several decades, Greece has since 2010 stepped up links with Israel, notably on security and energy. Since the Gaza war started in October 2023, with the Hamas attack on Israel, a growing number of Israelis have visited Greece and started investing in its property market. According to the Athens mayor, the number of Israelis who have secured Greek residents permits by buying property increased by 90 percent last year.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Antisemitic graffiti: Athens mayor clashes with Israel ambassador
ATHENS: The mayor of Athens became embroiled in a war of words Sunday with the Israeli ambassador to Greece who accused city authorities of not doing enough to clean up antisemitic graffiti. Ambassador Noam Katz told the Kathimerini daily in comments published Sunday that Israeli tourists felt 'uncomfortable' in Athens because the mayor Haris Doukas does not act against 'organised minorities' who put up anti-Jewish graffiti. Doukas responded within hours on X: We have proved our strong opposition to violence and racism and we do not take lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians.' 'Athens, capital of a democratic country, fully respects its visitors and supports the right of free expression of its citizens,' the Socialist PASOK party mayor added. 'It is revolting that the ambassador concentrates on graffiti (that is clearly wiped off) while an unprecedented genocide is taking place in Gaza,' Doukas added. Greece, as well as several other European nations, has seen a number of left-wing led pro-Palestinian demonstrations. A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists around the Greek islands was greeted by demonstrations in several ports. While following a pro-Arab policy for several decades, Greece has since 2010 stepped up links with Israel, notably on security and energy. Since the Gaza war started in October 2023, with the Hamas attack on Israel, a growing number of Israelis have visited Greece and started investing in its property market. According to the Athens mayor, the number of Israelis who have secured Greek residents permits by buying property increased by 90 percent last year.
Al-Ahram Weekly
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Athens mayor fires back at Israel on Gaza genocide amid graffiti row - War on Gaza
The mayor of Athens on Sunday slammed Israel for its genocide in Gaza, saying Greece would not take lessons in democracy from 'those who kill civilians,' after the Israeli ambassador accused city authorities of failing to remove what he alleged was antisemitic graffiti. Israel has frequently labelled solidarity with Palestinians suffering under its 22-month genocidal war on Gaza as antisemitism and sought to broaden the definition to include any legitimate criticism of its war crimes in the devastated territory. Haris Doukas, the Socialist PASOK mayor, responded sharply after Israeli ambassador Noam Katz said Israeli tourists felt "uncomfortable" in Athens because the mayor "does not act against organised minorities" responsible for anti-Israel graffiti. "We have proved our strong opposition to violence and racism and we do not take lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians," Doukas wrote on X. "Athens, capital of a democratic country, fully respects its visitors and supports the right of free expression of its citizens," he added. "It is revolting that the ambassador concentrates on graffiti (that is clearly wiped off) while an unprecedented genocide is taking place in Gaza." Since Israel's genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023, nearly 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, according to Gaza health officials, with much of the strip reduced to rubble. Independent estimates suggest the death toll is significantly higher. The war has been compounded by Israel's five-month blockade that has pushed Gaza's 2.3 million people into famine. Six more Palestinians have died from starvation in the past 24 hours due to the deadly Israeli blockade, bringing the total number of hunger-related deaths in Gaza to 175, including 93 children. UN experts, legal scholars, and human rights organisations have all recognised the war in Gaza as a genocide. Greece, like several other European countries, has seen repeated pro-Palestinian demonstrations, many of them led by left-wing and student groups. A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists around the Greek islands was met with protests at several ports in recent weeks. While Greece followed a pro-Arab foreign policy for decades, it has deepened ties with Israel since 2010, particularly in defence and energy cooperation. Demonstrators in Greece stopped Israeli tourists from disembarking a cruise ship on the Greek island of Syros, in protest of Israel's genocide in Gaza and the Greek government's relationship with Israel. — AJ+ (@ajplus) July 28, 2025 Since the start of the war, an increasing number of Israelis have visited Greece and invested in its real estate market, according to AFP. Doukas said the number of Israelis obtaining Greek residence permits through property purchases rose by 90 percent last year. Although the Greek government maintains close ties with Israel, many officials and large sections of the public have been critical of its war on Gaza and of efforts to label any criticism of that war as antisemitism. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
