Greek Police on Monday said that investigations are underway to locate and arrest the perpetrators who wrote Nazi slogans on the outer wall of the Jewish cemetery in the Athens southern suburb of Nikaia, late on Sunday night.
The Israeli embassy in Greece said that the act is another reminder of the existence of evil.
In three separate tweets, the embassy wrote: “The heinous anti-Semitic graffiti found today on the walls of the Athens Jewish Cemetery during Jewish High Holidays is yet another reminder of the existence of evil. Together with many other proud Greek voices we stand against hate, racism and extremism based on ignorance and prejudice. We are certain of a prompt Greek authorities’ reaction and have full confidence such acts will not be tolerated. Hate will not deter us.”
Earlier on Monday, government spokesman Stelios Petsas, Education Minister Niki Kerameus and Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias all condemned the act of vandalism.
The hate crime was also condemned by the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, which stated that “Nazism has no place in our democracy, mainly because it promotes its destruction along with the prevalence of the total violation of human rights. We express the certainty that the Greek State will take all necessary measures so that the perpetrators will be arrested and face justice. We will not be intimidated. Zero tolerance for Nazism.”
