Editorial: Hubris

Among the international obligations of a country is the duty to offer the maximum possible security to diplomatic missions.

Unfortunately, that ancient rule, which is and should be considered sacred, is trampled on by organised, violent groups which, in the self-appointed role of punishers, conduct ‘revolutionary exercises’, at certain times staging forays and barging in and at others throwing paint at foreign Embassies.

Undoubtedly, such acts embarrass Greece internationally, all the more so when they create the impression that democracy tolerates acts that far exceed the limits of activism, and when healthy protest is confused with an undemocratic posture.

The injury is even greater when democracy gives the impression that its stance toward such events is dictated by paralysing fear.

After the paint attack at the Embassy of Israel, the competent minister stated that every effort will be exerted to arrest the culprits.

That statement is self-evident, especially in light of the danger of such attacks becoming a permanent feature of public life, or rather a permanent hubris.

Such arrests should have occurred earlier, when the targets of similar attacks were public buildings and state infrastructure, when a violent sit-in took place in the courtyard of Parliament.

From that perspective, one hopes that the minister’s statement will not be too little, too late.