Friday, November 30, 2012
Six Greek born Holocaust survivors, who lived in Greece up to WWII, regained Greek citizenship during an emotional oath-taking ceremony at the Greek embassy in Tel Aviv on November 27.
The ceremony was the first to take place, following legislation in 2011, which granted Israeli citizens, who were born in Greece until 9 May 1945, the right to have their Greek citizenship reinstated. Following the ceremony, Greek ambassador to Israel Kyriakos Loukakis emphasized the important role of Greek Jews as a bridge between the two countries.
The ceremony was the first to take place, following legislation in 2011, which granted Israeli citizens, who were born in Greece until 9 May 1945, the right to have their Greek citizenship reinstated. Following the ceremony, Greek ambassador to Israel Kyriakos Loukakis emphasized the important role of Greek Jews as a bridge between the two countries.
On his part, the chairman of the Association of Survivors of Concentration Camps of Greek Origin living in Israel, Moshe Haelion, thanked the Greek government for this initiative that fulfilled a long-standing wish of the Greek-Jewish community.
Another 160 applications for reinstatement are pending and expected to be fulfilled in the near future. GNA: Special Issue: The Jews of Greece
