An Israeli couple were attacked with knives by two Arabic speakers in Athens on Friday night, Israeli media reported on Saturday.
The two Israelis were speaking Hebrew and wearing necklaces with a Star of David on at the time of the attack, which took place on the popular Ermou Street.
The Israeli couple was at a restaurant and making their way to the hotel when they were attacked, according to N12.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it was aware of the incident and said that the victims did not require hospitalization.
The ministry added that one of the attackers – a Gazan who had participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations before – was caught and detained. The other attacker escaped.
Uzi, an Israeli who was sat near the couple at the restaurant, told N12, “We followed them out of the restaurant, and heard that the couple was speaking Hebrew loudly. Arabic speakers who were passing by the area heard them and approached them. I heard them say ‘hi,’ and then they started attacking them and stabbing them with a knife.”
He added that he stayed at the scene for another fifteen minutes as police officers tried to catch the attackers who fled the scene.
Uzi told N12 that he couldn’t sleep after the incident.
“I still haven’t calmed down,” he said. “My flight back to Israel is tomorrow morning, and I don’t know if I’ll go out to walk around the city today. It’s crazy that things like this happen in Athens, it’s supposed to be a safe city.”
Typically safe city
Rafi Rom, an Israeli tour guide who has lived in Athens for a decade, told Walla he was “very surprised,” as “Armo is a popular shopping and entertainment street, and Israelis visit it all the time.”
“I am there all the time with groups of Israelis, conveying my explanations in Hebrew, and I have never encountered any manifestation of antisemitism or anti-Israelism there,” he added.
The circumstances of the incident remain unclear.
This is a developing story.
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