Greek riot cops clash with pro-Palestine supporters as Israeli cruise ship docks in Rhodes
Pro-Palestine protesters have clashed with riot police in Rhodes while an Israeli cruise ship docked on the Greek Island.
Scuffles broke out as protesters chanted 'Freedom for Palestine' while police squads, armed with riot shields and helmets, pushed them back.
The demonstration took place while the Israeli cruise ship, the Crown Iris, docked on the island.
A number of protesters were arrested during the rally, while police were seen restraining others.
The same ship, which was forced away from the Greek Island of Syros after a furious pro-Palestine protest, had been carrying around 650 Israeli tourists and arrived in Rhodes without delay.
Strong security measures had been put in place on the island as Greek authorities bid to prevent a repeat of Syros, where 1,700 Israeli tourists, including 300 to 400 children, were forced away.
They were instead diverted to the Port of Limassol in Cyprus.
Greece's Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis described that protest as 'shameful for Greece'.
Scuffles broke out as protesters chanted 'Freedom for Palestine ' while police squads, armed with riot shields and helmets, pushed them back
Strong security measures had been put in place on the island as Greek authorities bid to prevent a repeat of Syros
Pro-Palestine protesters clashed with riot police in Rhodes while an Israeli cruise ship docked on the Greek Island
'We owe an apology to those friends of Greece who chose to spend their holidays here and were forcibly denied that right by some.
'This incident must neither harm our relations with [Israel] nor the love of Israeli tourists for Greece,' he said.
While Greek police and port authorities had prepared for further protests, local businesses were opposed to the demonstration.
Greece has become an increasingly popular destination for Israeli travellers and tourist bodies, as well as the mayor of Rhodes Alexandros Koliadis, welcomed them with traditional sweets from Rhodes.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the Syros protests after more than 150 furiously demonstrated as the cruise ship attempted to disembark for a six-hour visist.
Protesters carried Palestinian flags, chanted and held banners as they formed a line to prevent the Israeli passengers from arriving in Greece.
Some passengers responded by waving Israeli flags and singing patriotic songs.
'Inside the ship, we feel safe, but the children are a little stressed,' one passenger told Israeli broadcaster Kan.
A number of arrests of protesters were arrested during the rally, local media have reported
The demonstration took place while the Israeli cruise ship, the Crown Iris, docked on the island
Palestine protesters had attempted to disrupt the Crown Iris, which was forced to divert to Cyprus last week after a similar rally
Initially Mano Maritime, who own the boat, said there would be a 'slight delay' in docking the ship, as they estimated the protest would disperse within half an hour.
But as it continued the shipping company skipped Syros and rerouted to Limassol.
The Greek coast guard confirmed the ship set sail earlier than its original schedule.
'The ship arrived at Syros, encountered a demonstration by pro-Palestinian supporters, and passengers were stuck on board without permission to disembark,' Mano Maritime later said.
They later added: 'The management of Mano Maritime has decided in light of the situation in the city of Syros to now sail to another tourist destination.'
A group called We Stay Active organised the protest.
A number of protesters were arrested during the rally as police cracked down on the demonstration
Around 650 Israeli tourists on the ship arrived in Rhodes
Tourist bodies, as well as the mayor of Rhodes Alexandros Koliadis, welcomed the Israeli tourists with traditional sweets from Rhodes
The Crown Iris had been prevented from disembarking at Ermoupoli, in the Greek island of Syros
The same ship, the Crown Iris, was last month used to transport Israeli nationals to and from Cyprus after Israel closed its airspace during its 12-day conflict with Iran.
It has also been used as part of the country's Operation Safe Return mission to repatriate citizens during conflict.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14947981/Greek-riot-cops-Palestine.html
The ship had earlier arrived at Syros, encountered a demonstration by pro-Palestinian supporters, and passengers were stuck on board.
The same ship, the Crown Iris, was last month used to transport Israeli nationals to and from Cyprus after Israel closed its airspace during its 12-day conflict with Iran. It has also been used as part of the country's Operation Safe Return mission to repatriate citizens during conflict.
Crowds of pro-Palestine activists demonstrated against the arrival of an Israeli cruise ship on another Greek island on Tuesday - the third such protest on Greek islands in the last week.
Protesters on the southern Greek island of Crete unfurled a huge Palestinian flag at the port of Agios Nikolaos as the tourists on board the Crown Iris disembarked and left on buses for their tours of the island.
The demonstrators clashed with police squads, armed with riot shields and helmets, who were deployed at the pier where the cruise ship was docked.
Officers used pepper spray at one point to keep the protest in control.
Four people were detained.
Similar scenes unfolded the previous day when the Crown Iris docked in a port on the eastern Greek island of Rhodes, where clashes broke out between riot police and demonstrators.
Protestors unveiled a huge Palestine flag to greet the Israeli cruise ship as it arrived in port
The demonstrators clashed with police squads, armed with riot shields and helmets, who were deployed at the pier where the cruise ship was docked
Officers used pepper spray at one point to keep the protest in control as scuffles broke out between activists and the police
A number of activists were arrested at the rally and groups of officers were photographed restraining others.
Last week's incident had triggered a phone call by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis.
Four people were detained at the demonstration on Tuesday in Crete
Protesters on the southern Greek island of Crete unfurled a huge Palestinian flag at the port of Agios Nikolaos
Greece is a popular tourist destination for Israelis on package tours and traveling independently, particularly in the summer months.
There are several flights per day between Tel Aviv and Athens, as well as from Israeli airports directly to Greek islands.
Lindos (pictured), a picturesque town on the south-east of Rhodes island
Lindos
a beach in Lindos on the island of Rhodes
Lindos
The ruins at the imposing Acropolis in Lindos, ancient temple ruins, elegant columns and views of Turkey
Lindos's 'classic, whitewashed, flat-roofed houses, all built centuries ago'
Lindos Grand Resort & Spa (pictured), a new hotel on Vlycha Bay that opened last summer
the adults-only Lindos Grand (pictured), guests of all ages from 'twentysomethings to grey-haired couples enjoying the informality'
'With such deluxe privacy, it’s easy to spend a day in blissful solitude,' at the Lindos Grand
the Street of the Knights of Rhodes
Visit the Seven Springs in Rhodes and you'll find a freshwater lake and small waterfall (pictured), all within a deep forest
Ialysos beach in the island of Rhodes, Greece
An aerial view of the coastal town of Ialysos, on Rhodes
Sunset in the main square in Rhodes' Old Town
the ancient port
An ancient view of Mandraki harbour: How the Colossus of Rhodes might have looked
The new statue will straddle the port entrance on the island, allowing ships to sail in between its legs (pictured, computer generated image of original Colossus Of Rhodes)
The main statue will be built of concrete and steel and clad entirely in bronze-coloured solar panels to provide power (pictured, engraving of Colossus of Rhodes by Fischer von Erlach)
The new Colossus of Rhodes (pictured, an artist's impression) will stand at 500ft tall - five times higher than the original
The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek titan god of the sun Helios, raised at the mouth of the island's harbour in the city of Rhodes
The wonder of the world was built in 280BC and at the time was one of the tallest statues in the ancient world. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 226BC
21st century view: the deer statues at the entrance to Mandraki harbour
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Location Map of Rhodes (in red, off the coast of Turkey)
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Ancient Map
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Modern Map
