On May 21, 2019, it was published on the website www.makthes.gr the following article "I am Greek, Jewish and a candidate" by Levis Benousilios* about his candidacy for the Municipality of Thessaloniki:
"I am a Greek Jew. I have traveled a lot and would like to get to know even more places. However, I couldn't live anywhere else but Thessaloniki.
Thessaloniki welcomed me in 1492 when I left after being chased by Ferdinand and Isabella. I have excelled, excelled and excelled my city, all these centuries. Plus I got chased from time to time. I want a city that is open, welcoming, that will motivate people. As a child of refugees, even among the oldest in the city, I would like to dwell on this matter.
Is Zidane French? Is Michael Jordan American? Is Antetonkoubo Greek? Of course it is! You do not lose your Greek identity by integrating the refugees. You don't lose jobs either. On the contrary, development, which they can contribute to if you use them properly, can create new jobs.
You have culture, you have history. You have nothing to fear. What don't you have? (at least not as much as it should be) Structures to include them, tolerance, acceptance to show you their good face, to offer as long as they receive. Look at it in everyday life. Do you look at them suspiciously? They retreat in fear, they ghettoize, they stand opposite. You smile at them, they smile at you. You help them integrate, you use their potential, the culture they share, you become richer as a society. Thessaloniki is a city of refugees. Commonplace; Yes, but we often see the older refugees turning against the younger refugees.
The Boutari administration made moves to "open" the city. In cooperation with the former Minister of Macedonia Thrace, Katerina Notopoulou and the Israeli Community, they supported the realization of the Holocaust museum, which will be a landmark and a pole of attraction for Jews worldwide.
Thousands of Israelis, most of them descendants of Thessaloniki Jews, come emotionally charged, to see the neighborhood where their grandparents grew up, they love Thessaloniki, Greece, Greek music.
Where have they all been all these decades? These people returned from the camps in 1945, most of them completely alone, having lost all their relatives and immigrated because they could no longer live in a foreign city, with houses occupied by others. Why did it have to take 70 years for this city to reopen, when they themselves have died and now their children or grandchildren are coming?
The "Program Positions" that we, the candidates of "Thessaloniki Together", (architects, engineers, transportation experts, teachers, lawyers, doctors, people with special needs, representatives of minorities) jointly drafted, and submit for consultation to the society of Thessaloniki, include a complete program, where it seems that for most of the problems that Thessaloniki is facing, it doesn't need effort (and a lot of expense) it needs a way!
"Thessaloniki Together" with Katerina Notopoulou offer me the framework to realize my vision of an open, dynamic, tolerant city, a city that can embrace the dreams of all people, a city that can and must take advantage of the geographical of advantage, a city of creation and innovation, a city of cooperation and dialogue.
*Levi Benouzilio is a candidate for municipal councilor with the combination "Thessaloniki together" and Katerina Notopoulou