Crowds demonstrate against Israeli cruise liner
In recent days, Greek ports, including Volos and Piraeus, have seen a wave of protests against the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris, operated by Mano Maritime. These demonstrations, primarily pro-Palestinian, are a reflection of strong local and political sentiments in opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza.
The unrest in Volos reached a boiling point when the Crown Iris docked, as protestors clashed with riot police. Police used stun grenades to disperse demonstrators as Israeli tourists disembarked for tours, while protesters marched through the city with large Palestinian flags and chants supporting Palestine.
In Piraeus, Greece's largest port near Athens, hundreds of protesters, including maritime workers and left-wing political activists, gathered, waving Palestinian flags and calling for Greece to suspend ties with Israel. Riot police cordoned off the ship to prevent protesters from approaching it directly.
The protests have been widespread along the Crown Iris's Greek route, with some stops seeing ship visits canceled or curtailed due to security concerns and large demonstrations. Activists have expressed strong opposition to the presence of Israeli tourists amid the Gaza war, with slogans such as “Stop the Genocide” and “No AC in Hell” referencing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The impact on Greece’s image and tourism is complex. Greece is a popular destination for Israeli tourists, and the government, including figures like the Health Minister, has emphasized hospitality towards all visitors and rejected antisemitism. However, the frequent protests have led to public political confrontations domestically, involving left-wing opposition calls to halt cooperation with Israel and increased security measures at ports.
While the protests highlight Greece's political divisions over the Middle East conflict, the direct disruption to tourism has been mostly limited to specific ports temporarily, with most passengers still able to tour destinations after police intervention.
Notably, most politicians and many citizens of Greece, as well as tourism associations, describe the protests as senseless and harmful to the country's image. A larger demonstration is expected in Piraeus, with left-wing organizations, unions, and the Communist Party of Greece calling for the protest.
It's important to note that not all Israeli citizens support Israel's actions in the Gaza conflict. This is not the first time protesters have disrupted tourists on the Crown Iris in a port city. Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in the Greek port city of Volos against the arrival of the Israeli cruise ship, and similar protests are expected to continue in Piraeus when the Crown Iris is scheduled to dock on Thursday morning.
- The recent protests against the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris in Greek ports, such as Volos and Piraeus, are an indication of the community's political views on Israel's military actions in Gaza, with employment policy not being explicitly related in the provided text.
- The prolonged Middle East conflict has infiltrated Greece's general-news sphere, as demonstrated by the continuous protests against Israeli tourists in Greek ports, despite some citizens voicing opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza and not being in complete support of the protests.
