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Wiesenthal Center: Greece not fighting anti-Semitism
The Jerusalem Post ^ | 21 November 2003 | TOM TUGEND

Posted on 11/21/2003 10:41:02 AM PST by anotherview

Nov. 21, 2003
Wiesenthal Center: Greece not fighting anti-Semitism
By TOM TUGEND

A travel advisory urging "extreme caution" for travelers to Greece has been issued by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in light of the nation's failure to take steps curbing growing anti-Semitism and hate propaganda.

Citing a series of anti-Jewish acts, articles and statements in Greece, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the center's associate dean, warned, "Failing a dramatic change in attitude and policy, the current atmosphere of hate and vilification can only escalate and could also poison the environment leading up to the 2004 Olympic Games."

Cooper noted that meetings with and appeals to high Greek government officials in Athens and Washington had been fruitless, so far.

The Wiesenthal Center also cited frequent expressions of hate against Albanian and Roma (Gypsy) immigrants.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2004olympics; albanians; antisemitism; greece; roma; wiesenthalcenter
Rather than fighting anti-Semitism the Greek government defends it. Greece and France were the two nations that blocked an EU condemnation of Mahathir Mohammed's "Jews rule the world" speech, and the Greek government condemned the Bush administration attack on the "Zorba the Greek" tirade about the Jews being the root of all evil.
1 posted on 11/21/2003 10:41:02 AM PST by anotherview
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To: anotherview
Gee when I was there I heard the PM saying everyone needed to be defended. Then again many of the Jews in Greece are decendants of those who fled Hitler before WWII and went to Greece when they were being turned away.

What "zorba the greek" tirade are you talking about.

The Greek government, unlike other alies, honored bilateral and nato agreements with the battle of iraq and the WOT.

What does Weasenthal want? Surpression of all unapproved speech? There are pleanty of radical leftist students who are squeeky wheels. The could just produce PSA ads and ask Greek TV stations to run it.

Greece and France do not get along btw, Greece was screwed big time by the french when Greece had the EU presidency during Iraq. They actually find it amusing to see france twist in the wind (france suffer due to their heavy moslem population)
2 posted on 11/21/2003 10:52:31 AM PST by longtermmemmory
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To: anotherview
This is a serious development for the safety of American athletes at the Olympics. If Greece isn't willing to deal with anit-semitism, there's a good chance they're not willing to deal with terrorists. Greece has forbidden the U.S. Olympic team from having armed security personnel. Thus, our people are now sitting ducks for terrorists at the 2004 Olympics. Some people in the Greek government would probably like to see a terrorist atrocity against the U.S. athletes on the hope it would hurt Bush in the 2004 election.
3 posted on 11/21/2003 11:38:39 AM PST by libstripper
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To: libstripper
Since Greece is hugely depended on american tourists, that is very unlikely. Remeber there are more Greeks in the USA than in Greece.

Since I been there a "few" times this year, my man on the street observation is that they are seriously getting ready. They recently had the head of the FBI there to help for olympic safety. In fact, the Greeks hired an ISRAELI firm to direct security for the olympics.

They have been doing practice drills. In areas you find a machine gun armed, swat like police officers at set intervals in an area. Their presense is very felt. The security people see preparation has already in place in order to prevent terrorists from preparing anything in advance.

It should also be noted the Greek parlament is currently dominated by conservatives, the socialist party has been and continues to loose elections.

4 posted on 11/21/2003 11:49:33 AM PST by longtermmemmory
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To: longtermmemmory
What "zorba the greek" tirade are you talking about.

See: here for the full story and here for Greek government reaction to the U.S. condemnation of the anti-Semitic remarks.

The Greek government, unlike other alies, honored bilateral and nato agreements with the battle of iraq and the WOT.

Perhaps, but they blocked an EU condemnation of Mohammed Mahathir's "Jews rule the world speech". See: here.

Greece and France do not get along btw,

...except when it comes to not denouncing anti-Semitism as shown in the link above.

What does Weasenthal want? Surpression of all unapproved speech? There are pleanty of radical leftist students who are squeeky wheels.

How about the Greek government fighting anti-Semitism and condemning it rather than defending it. Before launching into another defense of the Greek government please read the links above.

5 posted on 11/21/2003 11:59:34 AM PST by anotherview ("Ignorance is the choice not to know" -Klaus Schulze)
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To: anotherview
been there and been there. Why don't you go there and talk to jewish people who actually live there.
6 posted on 11/21/2003 12:08:31 PM PST by longtermmemmory
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To: longtermmemmory
I have been to Greece many times on business. The people are wonderful. Retsina wine has to be Europe's best kept secret: it compliments fish beautifully. I really, really like Greece.

I am Israeli and I criticized Ariel Sharon today. Does that make me anti-Israel? I am also American and I criticized George W. Bush's Middle East policy today. Does that make me anti-American? I posted about anti-Semitism in France yesterday. My mother is French and, as a little girl, she was hidden from the Nazis and saved by some wonderful French people. Still, the Chirac government has been terribly negligent in fighting anti-Semitism up until now.

Similarly, I am not anti-Greek. It might surprise you to know that I spent years in management of an American/Israeli company that did extensive business with Hellenic Aerospace the the Hellenic Air Force. I have even had security clearance in Greece. Why would I build up the military of a country I worried about?

All that said there has been a rising tide of anti-Semitism throughout Europe and some European governments have been very slow to react to it and to respond to it properly. Greece is in that category. Saying that is not anti-Greek nor an attack on the Greek people. It is a valid criticism of the Greek government.

In regard to security at the 2004 Olympics, that is certainly a legitimate concern. Before 9/11 I used to walk in and out of Athens or Thessaloniki airports without my bags even being checked. Security in Athens has improved from what I understand but it is still very poor compared to major American airports or Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. Is it wrong to ask the Greek government to do all it can to insure the safety of Olympic athletes? Do you remember the 1972 Munich Olympics and the massacre of the Israeli team? I sure do and I want to make sure nothing like that can happen again.
7 posted on 11/21/2003 1:35:32 PM PST by anotherview ("Ignorance is the choice not to know" -Klaus Schulze)
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To: zx2dragon
Now look at what I've gotten myself into....
8 posted on 11/21/2003 1:36:41 PM PST by anotherview ("Ignorance is the choice not to know" -Klaus Schulze)
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To: yonif; Alouette; dennisw; Nachum; Yehuda; veronica
Sadly, another anti-Semitism ping.
9 posted on 11/21/2003 1:37:32 PM PST by anotherview ("Ignorance is the choice not to know" -Klaus Schulze)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: Challah
The Greek-American population is estimated at approximately 1.2 million people.

**** ****

That is just direct immigrants. It does not count first and second generations. Nor does it count the millions in greek schools across the USA. I seen numbers range from 15 to 20 million of Greek decent.

Have work will get to rest later. Obviously you have never been to Greece. Travel broadens the mind.
11 posted on 11/21/2003 2:12:13 PM PST by longtermmemmory
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: anotherview
Typical axe to grind. I was in Greece (October 2000)at the start of the latest intifada, I met many Israeli's there who chose to go on vacation to Greece to escape. I think they were voting by their feet if Greece is safe for Israeli's.

A travel advisory? You believe that crap? Greece is full of their fair share of ignorant people, and they are not enlightened yet as to political correct speech. So don't take it too seriously.
13 posted on 11/25/2003 12:16:56 PM PST by nomoreheroes
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To: libstripper
Greece has drawn up the biggest ever security plan for next year's Athens Olympics, costing more than 650 million euros ($774.6 million). At least 45,000 police, military and other security staff will be deployed during the Games next August.

To quote from another article.

What more do you want? I doubt you are going to go to the Olympics anyway.

14 posted on 11/25/2003 12:22:46 PM PST by nomoreheroes
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