Athens Mayor to Israeli envoy: ‘We do not accept democracy lessons from those who kill civilians’

A diplomatic spat has erupted between the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, and Israel’s ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, over accusations concerning anti-Semitic graffiti in the Greek capital, according to Al Jazeera's report. Ambassador Katz had criticized Athens municipal authorities for what he described as insufficient efforts to clean up anti-Semitic graffiti in the city. In response, Mayor Doukas issued a sharp rebuke on social media, rejecting the criticism and turning the focus toward the ongoing war in Gaza. “It is appalling that the Ambassador focuses solely on graffiti (which, obvio

A diplomatic spat has erupted between the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, and Israel’s ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, over accusations concerning anti-Semitic graffiti in the Greek capital, according to Al Jazeera's report. Ambassador Katz had criticized Athens municipal authorities for what he described as insufficient efforts to clean up anti-Semitic graffiti in the city. In response, Mayor Doukas issued a sharp rebuke on social media, rejecting the criticism and turning the focus toward the ongoing war in Gaza. “It is appalling that the Ambassador focuses solely on graffiti (which, obviously, is being removed) at a time when an unprecedented genocide is taking place in Gaza,” Doukas wrote. Doukas defended Athens as a democratic city that respects freedom of expression and all its visitors. “As the city’s municipal authority, we have proven our active opposition to violence and racism,” he stated. But the mayor didn’t stop there—he issued a scathing condemnation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, saying: “We do not accept lessons in democracy from those who kill civilians and children waiting in line for food aid, from those who lead dozens of people to death every day in Gaza, through bombs, hunger, and thirst.” The exchange highlights rising tensions in Europe over the Gaza conflict, which has sparked widespread public outrage, protests, and political statements across the continent.