Israel Looks Beyond Turkey To Strategic Partnership With Greece

The first ever official state visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to Greece, signals that Israel is looking beyond its troubled alliance with Turkey, for other strategic Mediterranean partners. The Middle East peace process was high on the agenda as the Greek and Israeli Prime Minister met in Athens.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Athens on Monday.
It is the first-ever official visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to Greece, as Israel looks beyond its troubled alliance with Turkey for other strategic Mediterranean partners.

Discussions focussed on the Middle East peace process, as well as a range of defense and trade issues, including increased Israeli investment in Greek industry.




[Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister]: (male, Hebrew)




"I briefed the Greek Prime Minister Mr. Papandreou on the steps we are taking on our side in order to be able to start direct talks with the Palestinians and we hope that this will be successful."

However, the Israeli Prime Minister insisted there be no pre-conditions, which has been a traditional stumbling block in the peace process.




Netanyahu's two-day visit to Athens comes a month after a groundbreaking visit to Israel by Papandreou.

Greece has long been a close ally to Arab countries, and only recognized Israel officially some 20 years ago. Lately though, Greece has signalled a desire for closer relations, and a greater role in Middle East diplomacy.




Israel has also traditionally had closer ties with Greece's arch-foe Turkey. Yet this relationship has soured in recent years, particularly following the Israeli raid of the Turkish-backed aid flotilla to Gaza two months ago.




Adding to the complexity of shifting allegiances, there is a history of tension between Greece and Turkey, with two countries reaching the brink of war on several occasions in the late 20th century. In recent years the situation has improved greatly, but old rivalries linger.




Meanwhile, left-wing groups and activists held demonstrations in Athens on Monday afternoon to protest the flotilla raid, and Israel's policies in the Middle East.

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[johnnywires3]

@iSlash96 you are a lost cause.i do hope though that you provoke israel again.they will fuck and humiliate you again.just fuck off now.have no time for kids like you.dont reply,you just make yourself look stupid.

[iSlash96]

@johnnywires3 okay boy, i am acting like the mature one here, coming with all the facts. good day sir, i'll speak to you when your eyes are opened. i'll come back in 20 years and say: Where's Israel on the map?

[montaninio]

We dont like Zionists in Greece, everybody knows that they are our worst enemies, want to destroy Greece and they make this very good, Ellines kspipniste moni mas tha sosume thn patrida k to mellon mas! Αυτο χωρις φανατισμους κ ακροτητες,Χρυση Αυγη δεν ειναι η λυση ουτε συνεργασια με το Ισραηλ, πρεπει να φτιαξουμε πολιτευμα σαν την αρχαια δημοκρατια, πλατειες κ μερη π θα συγκεντρωνονται ολοι οι πολιτες π εχουν δικαιωμα ψηφου κ θα ακουμε τους ειδικους για το καθετι πριν παρουμε απο κοινου αποφαση

[johnnywires3]

@iSlash96 ate fuck of you little shit.come back after 20 years and make a comment.the stuff you write now is little boy bull shit.ate asixtir pezevengi.

[iSlash96]

@johnnywires3 look at you smartass, thinking you are a superpower. ahaahahhahhahaha xd your shittie president was put in place by Erdogan xd hahahahha xd stupid terrorist

[johnnywires3]

@iSlash96 look you little cunt.i was wondering when you will show your real face.you are just a little prick like the rest.there is no cure for people like you.believe in your stupid thoughts.i will just sit back and watch the next pkk attack and israel to humiliate and put you in your place again.till then just fuck off now and leave me alone.i have no time for little pricks like you.

[iSlash96]

@johnnywires3 Lausanne contract, so a part of the Aegean is ours. PKK is a problem, but will be wiped out soon. In a conflict with Israel? Dude, please look at the statistics of both military forces, then you can talk. when you look at that, you'll see that israel has no chance. i mean, we have won like from the whole werstern world, and still your braincells cant figure out that you should shut the fuck up

[johnnywires3]

@iSlash96 you have all been brainwashed to believe what you believe.the armenian genocide did not happen,the pkk is not a prblem,the invasion of cyprus was a peace operation,the aegean is half yours,israel has no rights and cyprus also to their legal oil and gas.turkey is going to put all of them in their place.what a load of bollocks.lets leave our talk here.you are making me very angry now and i also think you are no older than 16.just in the future remember what i said.now you are too blind.

[johnnywires3]

@iSlash96 dude?how old are you?i told you what people in istample told me and to be honest i agree with them.only foolish people like you talk like that about the kurds.how many turks,soldiers and people,have died because of the pkk in the last year alone.did you ever stop to think?now about your obsession about the turkish military.in any conflict with israel,you will lose.you know why and so do your generals.that is why there was no reply to the killing of the 9.you look at that very closely.

[iSlash96]

@johnnywires3 Dude, if you think that all the kurds are against turkey, then i dont even wanna talk to you no more. not even half of the kurds wants their independence. and may i remind you 1915? okay.. Do you really think that Israeli army forces is enough for the Turkish military? Then sir, you need to take a look at the statistics.