Greek newspapers published a statement of solidarity with the Palestinian people. It was written by 87 notable Greeks and Cypriots. Part of it read:

There is no reason to celebrate! Israel at 60 is a state that is still denying Palestinian refugees their UN-sanctioned rights, simply because they are ‘non-Jews’. It is still illegally occupying Palestinian and other Arab lands, in violation of numerous UN resolutions. It is still persistently and grossly breaching international law and infringing fundamental human rights with impunity afforded to it through munificent US and European economic, diplomatic and political support. It is still treating its own Palestinian citizens with institutionalised discrimination.

In short, celebrating ‘Israel at 60′ is tantamount to dancing on Palestinian graves to the haunting tune of lingering dispossession and multi-facted injustice. There is absolutely no reason to celebrate. But there are myriad reasons to reflect, to engage, to work towards peace and justice.

The signatories included prominent intellectuals, artists, academics and other figures from Greece and Cyprus. Specifically, a few examples are: acclaimed directors Pantelis Voulgaris and Nikos Koundouros, renowned singers Giorgos Dalaras, Demis Roussos and Maria Farandouri, writer and resistance fighter Manolis Glezos, former world javelin champion Sophia Sakorafa, composers Elias Andriopoulos and Giorgos Katsaros, poet/lyricist Manos Eleftheriou, and many actors, writers, artists and professors.

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