Latest news with #Kathimerini
Libya Review
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Greek Navy to Maintain Presence in Libyan Sea
Greece is continuing its naval operations in the Libyan Sea, citing the need to monitor its maritime zones, even as tensions with Libya escalate over disputed waters south of Crete. According to Kathimerini, the Greek Navy has maintained a presence in the region following an uptick in migrant boat departures from the Tobruk area towards Crete and the island of Gavdos. However, Athens now frames its deployment as essential to safeguarding what it considers sovereign maritime zones—claims Libya has formally rejected. On Wednesday, Greece submitted a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General and a diplomatic note to Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, in which it dismissed Libya's maritime claims. Libya, for its part, continues to assert its rights over these contested areas based on international law and previous agreements, including the Türkiye–Libya maritime accord. Observers in Libya view the Greek naval deployment as a provocative move that undermines efforts at dialogue and risks further militarising a political dispute. Tripoli has repeatedly called for diplomatic solutions and mutual recognition of sovereign rights rather than unilateral actions. In addition to the maritime dispute, Kathimerini reports that the Greek Navy is also monitoring increased Russian naval activity off the North African coast and the Sahel, following Moscow's reduced presence in Syria's Tartus port. While Athens justifies its naval posture as defensive, Libyan officials argue that such actions heighten regional instability and disregard Libya's strategic and economic interests in its southern maritime zones. Calls are growing in Libya for regional and international actors to support a balanced and lawful resolution to ongoing maritime disagreements, rather than favouring unilateral interpretations. Tags: CreteGreecelibyaMaritimeMediterranean
Roya News
05-08-2025
- 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.
Daily Tribune
04-08-2025
- 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
04-08-2025
- 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 Bawaba
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
'Clean your conscience, not our streets': Greece rejects Israeli lecture
ALBAWABA - On Sunday, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas scolded Israeli Ambassador Noam Katz harshly for criticizing how the city dealt with writing that was said to be racist. Doukas didn't believe Katz's claims and instead said that the real moral problem was Israel's current military operation in Gaza. Doukas wrote on the social media site X that the city "rejects violence and discrimination in all forms." He also said, "We will not accept democracy lessons from those who kill civilians." His comments were about Israel's war on Gaza, which has been going on for almost two years and has been criticized around the world. Katz said in comments published by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini that the Athens government wasn't doing its job of getting rid of writing that Israeli tourists found offensive. This led to the fight. Katz said tourist complaints about the city's silence on racist signs written by "organized groups" were making people upset. Doukas replied that a lot of the graffiti had already been cleaned up. He also said it was "outrageous" that the ambassador would be so focused on wall words and not on what he called "an unprecedented genocide" in Gaza. A lot of protests against Israel's war in Gaza have happened in Athens. A lot of leftist groups and campaigners have spoken out against the bombing, and similar protests have happened on Greek islands when cruise ships bringing Israeli tourists have come through. Israeli Ambassador to Greece: pro-Palestine graffiti in Athens is making Israeli tourists uncomfortable! Athens Mayor Haris Doukas: — Noah Hurowitz (@NoahHurowitz) August 3, 2025 The mayor also talked about how more Israelis are investing in Greece. He said that over 90% more Israelis have gotten the country's "golden visa" for investors in the last year. Since the war in Gaza started, there have also been more Israeli tourists. The Greek government has to find a good political balance between its long-standing links with Arab countries and its growing military and energy partnerships with Israel. Tensions are high because about 15 Western countries are making noises about their plans to accept a Palestinian state.
