By V. Kostoulas
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“We want to see our country more as part of the eastern Mediterranean, rather than as a part of the Middle East”, was the way a top Israeli official explained his government’s “strategic choice” to continue boosting relations with Greece and Cyprus.
A strife-plagued Middle East and now frosty and often hostile relations with an Erdogan-dominated Turkey are behind a noticeable Israeli “pivot” over recent years westwards, towards its nearest EU neighbors, i.e. Cyprus and Greece. At the same time, Israeli officials appeared satisfied with what they termed the “chemistry between Alexis Tsipras and Benjamin Netanyahu”, the Greek and Israeli prime ministers, respectively.
One particularly noteworthy figure in ever-expanding Greek-Israeli trade ties is the fact that nearly half a million Israeli citizens now choose Greece for holidays on an annual basis, with the east Mediterranean EU member-state considered a safe and hospitable destination, and featuring similar cultural characteristics.
Beyond tourism, Greek companies are increasingly looking to Israel for cooperation in the energy, innovation and security sectors.
Asked by “N” about relations with Turkey, Israeli officials referred to a dramatically changed situation from 10 years ago, “something that makes normalization of (those) relations extremely difficult.”
The Israeli side also appeared skeptical over an initiative by the EU to create a common defense mechanism, while at the same time expressing concern over what they call a “cohesion crisis” that the Union is experiencing.
