greece 2001-2

 

Right-wing extremist parliamentarian George Karatzaferis claimed there were no Jews among the victims of the World Trade Center attacks, for which he implied Israel was responsible. The most serious violent antisemitic incident in Greece in 2001 was a Molotov cocktail attack outside the synagogue of the Jewish community of Larissa.

 

the jewish community

Greek Jews number 5,000 out of a total population of 10 million. The two largest communities are Athens (3,000) and Thessaloniki (1,000). The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (Kentriko Israelitiko Symvoulio Ellados), the main communal organization, is recognized as a legal body under state law, functioning under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Religions.

 

Political Organizations and antisemitic activities

The LAOS (Popular Orthodox Alarm) party was founded in 2000 by independent Member of Parliament George Karatzaferis, who was expelled from the conservative Nea Dimocratia Party for opposing party policy. Karatzaferis is seeking to attract the votes of extreme rightists and fundamentalist Christians. He owns a TV channel (Tele-City) and the weekly newspaper Alfa Ena, through which he conveys his far right and antisemitic views.

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Karatzaferis claimed that the Israeli Mossad had advised the 4,000 Jewish workers and employees at the World Trade Center (WTC) to absent themselves from work that day. Thus, he alleged, there were no Jews among the victims and implied that Israel was behind the attacks. Karatzaferis cited Israeli newspapers as his sources, omitting the fact that they were reporting on articles published in the Arab and Muslim press (such as the Pakistani Nawa-i-Waqt and Kuwaiti al-Watan). Karatzaferis submitted a parliamentary question to the foreign minister concerning his contention about Israeli involvement.

Most political figures refrained from commenting on Karatzaferis’ allegations. However, a poll conducted by the state television station revealed that the majority of the population actually believed them. The results of the poll were followed by a discussion by journalists who refuted his claims. The Association of Publishers and Editors of the Athens Daily Press issued a statement on 16 October condemning racist behavior against Jews. The Israeli embassy also issued a press release denouncing Karatzaferis’ accusations.

            The activities of Chrissi Avgi (Golden Dawn), the main neo-Nazi organization in Greece, included an anti-immigrant march in Athens on 16 June, which was countered by anti-fascist groups. Chrissi Avgi is active within universities, high schools and football fan clubs, which it considers its main recruiting grounds. About 300 activists operate in ten major cities. They publish a weekly, Chrissi Avgi, as well as the magazine Antepithessi (Counter-Attack), which contains an English supplement. Youth against Racism in Europe reported that the organization was responsible for some 100 racist attacks during the three years 1998–2001.

The most serious antisemitic incident in 2001 took place on the night of 28/29 May when a Molotov cocktail exploded outside the synagogue of the Jewish community of Larissa (Thessaly). No one was injured and the building was not damaged. In addition there were several cases of antisemitic vandalism. Graffiti and swastikas appeared on tombs of the Jewish cemetery of Xanthe (Thrace) in January 2001, as well as on the Holocaust monument of Kastoria (Macedonia), in May 2001. The Jewish cemetery of Trikala was desecrated in April 2001, for the fifth time since 1993. The cemetery is currently being restored. No arrests were made in connection with these acts and no group claimed responsibility.

           

Attitudes toward the Holocaust

Several Holocaust commemorative ceremonies were held throughout the year, thanks to cooperation between the Board and the municipalities concerned, even in cities where Jewish communities no longer existed after the war. Holocaust memorials were unveiled on the Ionian islands of Lefkada (September) and Corfu (November), in memory of the Jews of Corfu who stopped over on Lefkada in 1944 during their deportation to the Nazi extermination camps. A commemorative plaque was also unveiled at the site of the former Jewish cemetery of Preveza (Epirus) in November.

A cultural event was held in Xanthe (Thrace) in memory of the Jews of the city who perished during the Holocaust, on the occasion of the presentation of the book The Jews of Xanthe by Thomas Exarchou.

The exhibition “Anne Frank, A History for Today,” of the Anne Frank House in Holland, has been touring Greece since 2000. In April 2001 it arrived in Thessaloniki, where it was opened by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, and in October it reached the island of Rhodes. In Volos (Thessaly) the exhibition was unveiled by the ambassador of the Netherlands in February 2002.