A diplomatic controversy erupted on Sunday following a post from the official Facebook account of the Greek Embassy in Luxembourg, which appeared to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause and condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The now-deleted post promoted demonstrations in Greece under the banner “Day of Action for Palestine”, while echoing slogans such as “No cooperation with Israel” and “Free Palestine.” The post also referenced alleged genocide in Gaza and included an image listing over 100 protest locations across Greece.
Greek Foreign Ministry Distances Itself
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded quickly, stressing that the post “does not reflect the official position of the Greek state.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lana Zochiou confirmed that disciplinary and administrative procedures have already been initiated to clarify how the post was published and to determine accountability.
“The relevant disciplinary procedures have already been launched, in accordance with the law, to clarify the circumstances under which the controversial post was made on the official social media account of the Embassy of Greece in Luxembourg and to assign responsibility,” Zochiou stated.
Public Diplomacy Office Under Scrutiny
Preliminary reports indicate that the Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Office, responsible for managing official communications and social media, is at the center of the inquiry. However, an internal investigation (EDA – Enorchi Dioikitiki Erevna) will determine whether additional embassy staff were involved or negligent.
Potential Diplomatic Repercussions
The incident has raised concerns about internal oversight mechanisms within Greek diplomatic missions. While Greece maintains diplomatic relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, it has historically advocated for a balanced approach and peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Posts perceived as taking sides risk damaging Greece’s credibility and its diplomatic relationships, particularly at a time of heightened sensitivity in the Middle East.
Diplomatic Blunder or Systemic Flaw?
The incident brings to light broader questions regarding communication protocols and approval processes for public statements issued by Greek embassies abroad.
Athens is now under pressure to contain the fallout, reaffirm its official stance on the conflict, and ensure that diplomatic missions strictly adhere to government policy and messaging guidelines.
Whether this was an isolated lapse or a symptom of deeper systemic issues within the foreign service remains to be seen.
Source: pagenews.gr