A disturbing wave of antisemitic incidents has erupted across Europe in recent weeks, targeting Israeli tourists and Jewish communities with increasing frequency and violence. From Greece to Germany, Switzerland to Belgium, attacks, threats, and legal actions against Israelis are raising alarms among Jewish leaders and government officials alike.
The most recent incident unfolded early Wednesday on the Greek island of Rhodes, where a group of Israeli teenagers was physically assaulted by dozens of pro-Palestinian attackers—some reportedly armed with knives—after leaving a nightclub. The teens were followed to their hotel and violently attacked, leaving several with minor injuries. The attack came just one day after pro-Palestinian protesters at the port of Syros, another Greek island, forced an Israeli cruise ship to cancel its docking, stranding approximately 1,600 Israeli passengers.
Greek authorities confirmed that roughly 300 demonstrators gathered at the Syros port waving Palestinian flags and chanting antisemitic slogans. Some held banners reading “Stop the Genocide” and “No AC in Hell,” a thinly veiled death wish aimed at Israelis. The Greek government condemned the protest and pledged increased protection for Israeli tourists and vessels.
“Every necessary measure must be taken to ensure that citizens are protected, regardless of where they come from, their origin, religion or anything else,” said Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis in a radio interview. Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis echoed those concerns in parliament, calling the blockade “unthinkable” and promising justice for those responsible.
Despite the strong response from Athens, a pattern of escalating hostility toward Israelis is unmistakable. Last week, pro-Palestinian activists vandalized an Israeli restaurant in Athens, shouting antisemitic slurs and spray-painting slogans like “No Zionist is safe here” and “All IDF soldiers are war criminals.” Similar acts of aggression have occurred across Europe.
In Switzerland’s resort town of Davos, an unidentified man reportedly spat on and assaulted multiple Jewish individuals, including an elderly couple. In Germany, masked vandals targeted a Jewish restaurant in Freiburg by hurling eggs at its windows. Berlin authorities also confirmed the postponement of a restaurant launch by Israeli chef Eyal Shani following threats and anti-Israel boycotts.
Meanwhile, in Belgium, two Israel Defense Forces soldiers attending the Tomorrowland music festival were arrested and interrogated following complaints from the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), an anti-Israel legal group accusing them of war crimes. The soldiers were allegedly seen waving Givati Brigade flags—an IDF unit falsely accused by HRF of genocide in Gaza.
Antisemitism experts and security analysts warn these events are not isolated. Neil Bar, an expert on radical ideologies affiliated with the University of Haifa and UC Berkeley, stated that “we’ve seen a steady rise in targeted attacks—not just against Israeli tourists, but against Jews more broadly.” He cited the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, graffiti on Holocaust memorials, and uniformed men with Palestinian flags threatening tourists in central Athens.
“This isn’t political protest anymore,” Bar said. “This is antisemitism in its rawest form—assaults based solely on ethnic and religious identity.”
Gallia Lindenstrauss of Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies also warned of a disturbing trend. “When you start seeing violence toward tourists, it’s clear we’ve crossed into new territory,” she told JNS. She attributed the rise in aggression to grassroots radicalization, fueled by far-left and anarchist elements who now engage in coordinated, sometimes violent actions against Israelis and Jews.
Despite growing street-level hostility, official relations between Israel and Greece remain strong. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has demonstrated consistent support for Israel, visiting Jerusalem in March and declaring the two nations “ancient civilizations with common values.” Following the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in southern Israel, Greece was one of the first countries to fly the Israeli flag over government buildings in solidarity.
However, experts caution that government support is not enough to protect Jewish visitors in the face of intensifying public hostility. According to the Anti-Defamation League’s Global 100 survey, antisemitic attitudes in Greece, while down from 69% in 2014, remain at 50%—among the highest in Western nations.
The Greek government, under increasing pressure, has vowed to crack down on such acts. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Transport Minister Miri Regev have both spoken with their Greek counterparts to demand security guarantees. William Anagnostaras, press officer at the Israeli Embassy in Athens, said Greek officials and business leaders are taking the issue seriously, noting that hundreds of thousands of Israelis visit Greece every year without incident.
Still, fears remain. “This is not about IDF soldiers or political partisanship,” Bar concluded. “This is about Israelis and Jews being targeted as a collective, based solely on identity. We need to call it what it is—antisemitism, plain and simple.”
Lindenstrauss agreed: “It’s not just graffiti or angry slogans anymore. When Jews can’t walk safely through European streets or enjoy a vacation without fear of assault, we’ve entered dangerous territory. And history has taught us what happens when such hatred is left unchecked.”
