Israel Launches Education Award Honoring Greece’s World War II Resistance
Israel announced an annual Hellenic Education & Community Award on October 28, linking a new educational initiative with the anniversary of Greece’s refusal to submit to an Italian ultimatum during World War II.
The Israeli Embassy in Greece said the award will recognize a Greek educational institution, community or social initiative. Its first contribution will provide modern educational technology and equipment to the Model Ecclesiastical High School of Xanthi, in northeastern Greece’s East Macedonia and Thrace region.
The initiative is titled “No — Honoring courage, inspiring the future generations.” It coincided with Oxi Day, named for the Greek word for “no.” Equipment value and delivery timing were not announced.
The anniversary recalls October 28, 1940, when Italian dictator Benito Mussolini demanded that Italian troops be allowed to occupy strategic locations in Greece. Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas rejected the ultimatum, and Italian forces invaded from Albania. Greece’s resistance became a defining episode in the country’s wartime history.
In a message for this year’s anniversary, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos addressed Greeks abroad and recalled the country’s rejection of the ultimatum 86 years earlier. The annual observance carries the history of that decision to younger generations in Greece and its diaspora.
The education award follows a separate initiative to strengthen parliamentary links. The Greek Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus was inaugurated at the Hellenic Parliament in Athens on October 13, according to the Israel Allies Foundation. A corresponding group opened in Cyprus the following day.
The foundation said those groups would encourage cooperation on security, energy and technology, alongside efforts to combat antisemitism and boycotts of Israel. Greek lawmakers Konstantinos Tsiaras and Harris Theoharis co-chair the Greek caucus. The parliamentary initiative is separate from the embassy’s school award.
The embassy describes education, culture, technology and economic partnerships as part of its wider work to develop relations with Greece. The new award adds a recurring community and educational element to that relationship, with the Xanthi school identified as the first recipient and future awards intended to recognize further Greek institutions or initiatives.
JNS — October 28, 2026.
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