Five Egyptian students were arrested in the Greek port of Piraeus this weekend, following a clash between 200 passengers and crew members of two ships–one Egyptian, the other Israeli–as a result of an incident which Greek officials denounced as Egyptian “warmongering.” At least 12 persons were injured in the melee.
The ships involved were the Zion, an Israeli vessel, and the Egyptian Algazayer, The vessels were berthed side by side, when students aboard the Algazayer shouted insults at the Israelis. The latter replied, the Arabs attacked with knives, broken bottles and stones–and the Israelis fought back. More than 100 Greek policemen intervened.
After the five Egyptians were arrested, port police guarded the Zion against possible arson until it sailed, several hours behind its schedule. A little later, after the five arrested Egyptians were allowed temporarily to return to their ship, the Algazayer also sailed. Not only the police authorities, but the Greek press too denounced the Egyptians for starting the fight, terming them “warmongers” and “savages.”
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