Not All in Greece Embrace Israeli Tourists: Now Exploring the New Complex Dynamics of Travel and Diplomacy

Published on July 29, 2025

Over the past few years, Greece has turned into a popular vacation spot for Israeli tourists with beautiful landscapes, warm hospitality and a deep cultural relationship. Israeli visitors were greeted by the mayor of Rhodes, Alexandros Koliadis, who offered them traditional sweets as a token of the island’s hospitality. But under that amiable greeting, the holiday was shadowed by political tensions after political protests against Israeli tourists disrupted their visit.

The Warm Welcome Disrupted by Protests in Greece

The Israeli tourists in Greece are tired of the menacing atmosphere of living in an ongoing conflict. For these tourists, Greece isn’t merely a lovely getaway but is also a steadfast ally in a time of need. Israel maintains a strong relationship with Greece, with both their militaries cooperating closely. Greece has been a loyal Israeli ally, particularly when Israel needed to escape its own problems, thus becoming a favorite spot for Israelis to search for inner peace.

Yet, despite the tight relations, a recent surge in protests by pro-Palestinian activists in Greece, they argue, has begun to undermine the holiday experience for many Israeli holidaymakers. With some 650 Israeli tourists aboard, the Crown Iris cruise ship which pulled up at Rhodes was the latest target in a series of attacks by demonstrators, furious at the continuing violence in Gaza.

Protests Disrupt Tourism in Greece

Crown Iris which had suffered a storm of protest on Syros was ordered off the island. On Syros, over 1,700 Israeli tourists, many of them children, have been unable to disembark because pro-Palestinian protesters have demonstrated against the presence of Israelis. The protesters had Palestinian flags and signs that were inscribed with “Stop the Genocide,” leading to an additional rise in tension. Some of the tourists were crying, especially the children, safely inside the ship.

Greek officials were quick to manage the crisis, issuing statements designed to avoid letting the protests damage the well-rooted Greece-Israel relationship. They made clear that though the protests were regrettable, they would not hurt the relationship between both countries or the deep bond that Israeli tourists feel towards Greece. Greece’s government, under Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, worked with Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, to defuse the situation diplomatically.

Saar with Gerapetritis on disturbances in Syros by underlining that such a situation should not be worsened. In his statement, Saar emphasized that while Israel respects the right to demonstrate, the safety of its citizens’ prevails and these events should not overshadow the strong relationship between both collectives.

Affected Tourists Share Their Experiences

Separately, many of the Israeli tourists on the Crown Iris reported that, despite the tension, they felt safe on board the boat. But passengers lamented the emotional toll the protests took on their family. As one tourist told Israeli media: “While we felt completely safe inside the ship, the children on board being exposed to the protests on the island would naturally upset anyone.” The unrest in the region unnerved many passengers, despite being safely aboard their cruise ship.

The Crown Iris: A Sign of Strain

The driven-by Kron Iris’s role in both the Syros and Rhodes events has served as a metaphor for the escalating political tensions regarding Israeli tourism in Greece. The same ship was previously used as part of Israel’s Operation Safe Return, which helped to repatriate Israeli citizens during times of conflict — such as the 12-day war between Israel and Iran last month. The ship has also been used to ferry Israeli citizens to and from Cyprus when Israel briefly closed its airspace.

Move Over, Turkey: Flotillas and the Future of Israel-Greece Relations

Although protests have soured the travel experience for some Israeli vacationers, Greek officials are unwavering in their desire for good ties with Israel. Tourism is a key industry for Greece, and Israel has always been among its top markets. The Greek government has also made it clear that these sporadic protests should not cast a shadow on the profound friendship between the two countries.

Conclusion: A Nervous Equilibrium between Politics and Tourism

The demonstrations in Rhodes and Syros are indicative of the mixed messages surrounding international travel amid ongoing political turmoil. Greece has made efforts to ensure Israeli tourists feel welcome there, but, with tensions over the Gaza conflict erupting between the two nations, the disputes have affected tourism, making some tourists, and the locals around them, feel uneasy.