Israeli tourists’ deep bond with Greece took center stage as Israel’s Ambassador to Athens, Pninat Yanai, shared highlights from her family vacation in Mykonos this summer. In a heartfelt social media post, the Israeli diplomat offered a glimpse into her family’s stay on the beloved island, while drawing attention to the growing number of Israelis who choose Greece as their summer destination. “Sometimes diplomacy starts around a table, on a boat — or even with breaking plates in a Greek taverna,” she wrote.
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As she described, nearly 30 members of her family gathered in Mykonos this summer, where they sailed on a yacht, savored Greek cuisine, and celebrated in a local taverna — dancing and breaking plates in true Greek tradition. She made a special mention of her 82-year-old father, a former school principal whom she described as usually “a very serious man.” During the vacation, she wrote, he “became one with his children and grandchildren” and danced alongside them at the taverna. “And perhaps that says something about the magic of Greece,” she noted.
Pninat Yanai: “Israelis don’t come here just as tourists — they fall in love with Greece”
The ambassador placed particular emphasis on the unique relationship between Israeli visitors and the country, writing that “Israelis don’t come here just as tourists. They fall in love with Greece” — citing its people, hospitality, culture, food, islands, and way of life.
According to figures she shared, Greece welcomed a record 743,841 visitors from Israel in 2025 — a number nearly 20% higher than the previous year.
She noted that, in her role as ambassador, she feels a strong personal responsibility to help deepen this relationship further — encouraging even more Israelis to discover Greece, boosting tourism in both directions, and above all, bringing the two peoples closer together.
“Tourism is so much more than flights, hotels, and beautiful destinations. It’s people meeting people. It’s friendships being formed. It’s cultures embracing one another,” she wrote.
“And between Israel and Greece, this connection already feels like family,” she concluded.
Pninat Yanai’s full post
“Sometimes diplomacy starts around a table, on a boat — or even with breaking plates in a Greek taverna. And this summer, nearly 30 members of my family gathered in Mykonos for an unforgettable family vacation in Greece.
We sailed through the stunning blue waters on a yacht, soaked in the breathtaking scenery, discovered the wonderful Greek cuisine, danced in a local taverna and, of course, embraced the Greek spirit by breaking a few more plates.
Even my 82-year-old father — a former school principal and usually a very serious man — became one with his children and grandchildren and danced at the taverna. And perhaps that says something about the magic of Greece.
Israelis don’t come here just as tourists. They fall in love with Greece. Its people, its warmth, its culture, its food, its islands, and its unique way of life.
In 2025, Greece welcomed 743,841 visitors from Israel — a record number, nearly 20% higher than the previous year.
As Israel’s designated Ambassador to Greece, I feel a special responsibility to help further develop this relationship: to encourage even more Israelis to discover Greece, to boost tourism in both directions, and above all, to bring our two peoples even closer together.
Because tourism is so much more than flights, hotels, and beautiful destinations. It’s people meeting people. It’s friendships being formed. It’s cultures embracing one another.
And between Israel and Greece, this connection already feels like family.”
