A number of serious anti-Semitic incidents were recorded in 1998 in Greece,
including one incident of firebombing and several cemetery desecrations. On the
positive side, a seventh memorial to Holocaust victims was erected, in Volos.

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 Salonika (1,000). Of the country's
pre-war community of 77,000, 66,000 were murdered by the Germans and
their collaborators.
The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (Kentriko Israelitiko
Symvoulio Ellados) is the main communal organization, and is recognized as
a legal body under state law, functioning under the jurisdiction of the Ministry
of Education and Religions. In early 1998, the substantially expanded Jewish
Museum of Greece was relocated and reopened in Athens' Plaka district.

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ANTI-SEMITIC ACTIVITIES
Political Groups
Of the few marginal extreme right-wing groups in Greece Chrissi Avgi
(Golden Daybreak) appeared to have been the most active in 1998. Chrissi
Avgi maintains links with other extreme right groups in Europe. In
September 1998 delegates of Chrissi Avgi met with representatives of the
French PNFE and the German NPD, among others, in a secret, closed
international gathering in Salonika. The local press exposed and condemned
the meeting, and the Jewish community protested to the government for
allowing it to have taken place on Greek soil.
Another extreme right group that maintains links with similar groups in
Europe is Ethniko Metopo (National Front). In July 1998, the French Front
National youth movement, under the leadership of Samuel Maréchal, signed
a transnational agreement with Ethniko Metopo.

Violence and Vandalism
A serious anti-Semitic incident took place in Greece on Holocaust Memorial
Day, 23 April. Two firebombs exploded at the premises of the Central Board
of Jewish Communities in Greece, in Athens. No one was hurt and there was
little damage. Responsibility for the act was claimed by International
Solidarity, an apparently left-wing group sympathizing with the Palestinians.
In addition, a number of cemetery desecrations were recorded during the
year. The desecrations occurred in the Jewish cemeteries of Trikala
(Thessaly), in May, and Kavalla (Macedonia), twice, in August and October.
Tombstones in the latter were destroyed and covered with anti-Semitic
graffiti. In addition, graffiti and swastikas were reported in the park around
the Holocaust monument in Salonika.
The prominent Greek singer Kazansidis made anti-Semitic statements
during an hour-long live broadcast on Greek television in February.
Kazansidis claimed he was the victim of a "Jewish plot" headed by Mynos
Matsas, a Greek tycoon of the music industry, and warned Greeks against
the alleged malicious intentions of the Jews to whom he attributed all the
negative characteristics possible.

Propaganda
The publisher Dion (Salonika) issued a book in 1998 called Omada Epsilon
(The Epsilon Team), by Anestis Keramidon. Epsilon is depicted as an élite
group established to defend Greece against Zionism. The book presents a
series of anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic theses, including conspiracy theories,
which lead to its final chapter, "The End of Zionism." Dion appears to
specialize in neo-pagan, anti-Christian books with titles such as Jesus and
Pavlos and The Thirteenth God of the Greeks.
There are occasional reports of anti-Semitic leaflets circulating in remote
areas of Greece. One such leaflet was signed "The Fathers of Aghion Oros,"
Aghion Oros being a sacred area in Greece dedicated to monasteries and
religious purposes. There is no confirmation, however, that the signatories
of the leaflet had any connection to the official authority of Aghion Oros.
The leaflet, written in poor Greek, begins: "Greeks Beware and Resist! The
Zionist Jews, `New Age' followers and antichrists have opened the gates of
hell," and warns of the coming of an antichrist in Jerusalem.
Zionism as an ideology of Jewish misanthropy and conspiracy appeared
also on the extremely nationalistic website called Hellenic Nationalist Page.
Under the title "New Zionist Attack against Hellenism," the writer alleges,
inter alia, that the Jews deliberately promote the notion that they are the
only victims (or least the most victimized people) in history and that by
erecting monuments to commemorate the Holocaust in Greece they are also
"promoting Zionist propaganda with regard to the Holocaust."

ATTITUDES TOWARD THE HOLOCAUST AND THE NAZI ERA
A seventh memorial to Holocaust victims has been erected in Greece. The
monument was unveiled in September in the town of Volos (Thessaly), in
memory of 155 Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Holocaust Day was
commemorated as usual in the presence of local dignitaries and representatives
of the Greek Orthodox Church.