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 Greece |  Israel |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Greece, Tel Aviv | Embassy of Israel, Athens |
Greece–Israel relations are the bilateral relationship between theHellenic Republic and theState of Israel.
Greece and Israel today enjoy positive and extensive diplomatic relations and consider each other an ally.[1][2] Israel and Greece consider each other as collaborators in the aspects of military, intelligence and economy.[3] Both countries are part of theEnergy Triangle, which referred to the extraction of oil and gas from bothIsrael andCyprus by 2015, which will be delivered to mainlandEurope with a pipeline through Greece. The deterioration of Israel's relations with Turkey following the2010 Gaza flotilla raid has heavily contributed to the strengthening of Greek-Israeli relations.[4] Both countries are partners in theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and members of theUnion for the Mediterranean, theWorld Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations. Israel is the second largest importer of Greek products in the Middle East.[5]
A mid-2024 poll shows that 61% of Greeks consider Israel an ally of Greece and a September 2025 poll shows that 77% want to continue the alliance with Israel despite the global backlash.[6][7][8]
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Duringthe Holocaust in Greece between 83 and 87 percent of Greek Jews were murdered, one of the highest proportions in Europe. There are 315 Greeks who have been awarded asRighteous Among the Nations, more than any other Balkan country, for risking their lives to rescue Jews during theAxis occupation of Greece.
Along withCuba, Greece was one of only two Christian-majority nations to vote against theUnited Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. This was mainly in order not to damage Greek-Arab economic ties, and to avert a threat to expel theEgyptian Greek community (which wouldeventually happen after Nasser's coming to power).[9][10]
Following the signing of armistice agreements confirming Israel's survival in the aftermath of the1948 Arab–Israeli War, Greece recognized the State of Israel on 15 March 1949,[11] although it was diplomatically represented in Tel Aviv on a lower-than-embassy level.
Relations between Israel and Greece somewhat improved during theGreek junta which ruled from 1967 to 1974. The junta praised the "martial aspects of the Israeli state" and assisted the United States in supporting Israel during theSix-Day War. Greece also sent aconsul to Jerusalem during this period, but refrained from granting full recognition to balance its relations with the Arab states.[12]
In the 1990s, efforts were made to improve ties between the two countries and a defense cooperation agreement was signed. However, tensions existed, due to Greece's traditional support of thePalestinians,[13] Greek favoritism towards the Arabs and support ofPalestinian political violence, (particularly under the Prime Ministry ofAndreas Papandreou, 1981–89 and 1993–96),[14] as well as Israeli military cooperation with Turkey[15][16] and controversies over theGreek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem.[17] Bilateral trade doubled between 1989 and 1995. That year Israel exported $200 million worth of chemicals and oil products to Greece and imported $150 million worth of cement, food, and building materials.[citation needed]
Relations between Greece and Israel improved following the May 2010Gaza flotilla incident, which soured Israel's relationship with Turkey. In August 2010, Prime Minister of IsraelBenjamin Netanyahu became the first Israeli prime minister to visit Greece. On his two-day tour, Netanyahu and Greek prime ministerGeorge Papandreou discussed the possibility of expanding strategic ties and establishing greater cooperation between the nations' militaries and defense industries. Israeli diplomats expressed their desire to expand ties with Greece.[18][19]Israeli PresidentShimon Peres thanked Greece.[20]
In June 2017 Prime Minister Netanyahu paid an official visit toThessaloniki, meeting with members of thecity's ancient Jewish community and visiting the historicMonastir synagogue.[21]
On January 2, 2020, the Prime Ministers of Greece, Cyprus and Israel signed theEastMed pipeline deal in Athens.[22] Relations between Greece and Israel continued to strengthen with Greece abstaining to vote against Israel in the UN resolution of 2023 during theGaza war.[23]
In May 2021, an agreement was reached after agovernment-to-government negotiation for the establishment of theInternational Flight Training Center within theKalamata Air Base premises inKalamata, Greece. The €1.375 billion deal includes a 22-yearpublic-private partnership withElbit Systems to modernize Greece’s pilot training capabilities.[24][25]
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Relations between Greece and Israel have improved since 1995 due to the decline of Israeli-Turkish relations under theAK Party of prime ministerErdoğan, Greece's desire to increase its deterrent power against Turkey and the improvement in U.S.-Greece relations.[26] In 2006, PresidentMoshe Katsav visited Greece, in what was the first official visit by an Israeli head of state.[13][27]
Greece–Israel relations improved further as Turkish-Israel relations worsened in the aftermath of theGaza flotilla raid in May 2010. In July 2010Greek Prime ministerGeorge Papandreou (son of Andreas Papandreou) made an official visit to Israel after many years, in order to improvebilateral relations between the two countries.[28] During Netanyahu's reciprocal visit in August 2010, the leaders of the two states discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran, and military and economic cooperation in a one-on-one meeting that lasted an hour and a half.[29]In January 2011 Foreign Minister of IsraelAvigdor Liberman made a state visit toAthens. During that visit, the two countries reportedly set up a joint committee to study ways of improving cooperation on strategic and anti-terror issues.[30][31]
In October 2010, the Israeli and Greek air forces trained jointly in Greece. According to the BBC, this signified a boost in ties that was due in large part to Israel's rift with Turkey.[32][33]
Israel was grateful to Greece for its role in thwarting the plannedsecond Gaza flotilla in 2011.[34][35]
In November 2011, theIsraeli Air Force hosted Greece'sHellenic Air Force in a joint exercise at theUvda base.[36][37] Greece sent fiveF-16 block 52 fighter jets for a five-day exercise, which included practice air fights as well as ground attacks. IsraeliF-15 and F-16 fighter jets also participated in the exercise, along with Boeing fuel supplier airplanes.[38]Similar training was held in 2012 by the IAF in cooperation with the Hellenic Air Force in thePeloponnese and parts of southern Greece in a response to the need of the IAF training of pilots in unfamiliar areas.[38][39]
On March 14, 2013, the navies of Israel, Greece and the US held a two-week joint military exercise for the third year in a row. The annual operation is nicknamed Noble Dina and was established in 2011. Similar to Noble Dina in 2012, the exercise in 2013 included defending offshore natural gas platforms and simulated air-to-air combat and anti-submarine warfare.[40][41][42][43]
Also, on March 27, 2017, Israel participated in the large-scale "Iniochus 2017" military exercise, which is organized annually by Greece, along with USA, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.[44][45] Israel participated also in Iniochus (Iniohos) 2019 military exerciseFlying over the Olympus.
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In November 2013, Israel hosted a "massive" aerial-maneuverdrill, code-named "Blue Flag," at theOvda air base, near the southern city ofEilat, in theNegev Desert, modeled after theUS Air Force's annualRed Flag exercise.[46] The exercise included seven combatsquadrons from the Israeli Air Force and one squadron each from the air forces of Greece, the United States, and Italy. Half of Israel's air space had been closed to traffic for the exercise, from approximately the center of the country southwards. Pilots practised attacks on enemy bases and tactics for defeating anti-aircraft measures, such as shoulder-held missiles, advanced surface-to-air missiles, and radar systems.[47][46] Observers to the drill includedmilitary attachés and political representatives fromCyprus andBulgaria.[48]
In April 2014 the IDF and the Ministry of Defense of Israel announced the closure of their military attaché office in Switzerland during the summer of 2014. It was decided to open a new military attaché office in Greece due to the growing military cooperation between the two countries and as a counterweight to the decline of defense relations with Turkey. Until April 2014 the military attaché in Italy was also responsible for transactions and security relations in Greece, but after the announcement of the decision Athens will host a permanent military attaché who will address security relations between Greece and Israel directly.[49][50][51][52]
Greece is one of only three countries Israel has signed aStatus of forces agreement (SOFA), with the other being the United States and Cyprus. The agreement enables Israel in hosting Greek military forces in its territory or stationing Israeli military forces in the territory of Greece, as part of the military agreements and comprehensive security arrangements between the two countries.[53]
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The joint Cyprus-Israel oil and gas explorations centered on theLeviathan gas field are also an important factor for Greece, given its strong links withCyprus.[3][54][55] ΔΕΗ-Quantum Energy, a Cyprus-based group including Greece's state-controlled power utilityPublic Power Corporation of Greece (PPC, also known as ΔΕΗ) is planning to lay the world's longest subsea power cable, linking Israel, Cyprus and Greece. The link, called theEuroAsia Interconnector project, would be the longest in the world.[37][56]The tripartite energy memorandum of understanding came after nearly a year of negotiations and was signed in Nicosia, Cyprus, by Energy and Water Resources Minister Silvan Shalom; Nicos Kouyialis, the Cypriot minister of agriculture, natural resources and environment; and George Lakkotrypis, the Greek minister for the environment, energy and climate change.
On 8 August Greece, Israel and Cyprus signed the tripartite energy memorandum of understanding after the completion of one year negotiation inNicosia. Negotiations were held between the Energy and Water Resources Minister of IsraelSilvan Shalom, the Cypriot minister of agriculture, natural resources and environment Nicos Kouyialis and the Greek minister of environment, energy and climate change George Lakkotrypis.[57] The 2,000-mega-watt EuroAsia Interconnector is planned to lift Cyprus and Israel out of energy isolation through cheaper electricity as supported by George Lakkotrypis.Silvan Shalom announced that the agreement is "historic" and insisted that it demonstrated the powerful relations between the countries the three countries adding that the electric conduit will become a cable and is going to export electricity to the European energy market.[58][59][60] The Greek Prime MinisterAntonis Samaras proclaimed in 2013 that Israel has a special role to play in supplying Europe with energy resources and supported that it can become a key energy hub.[61]
Electricity connection between Hadera of Israel and Vasilikos in Cyprus is one of the projects that will be funded by the European Union in the framework of the programmeConnecting Europe Facility.[62] According to a press release issued by the European Commission the amount earmarked for the Hadera Israel-Vasilikos Cyprus connection is approximately €1.325m.The European Commission on February 17, 2017. approved €14.5 million as financial support for final detailed studies prior to Project Implementation.[63][64][65] The project is based on an undersea cable for the connection of the electricity systems of Israel, Cyprus and Greece. Its capacity will be 2000 MW and its length approximately 1518 km. It will include three connections: 329 km between Israel and Cyprus, 879 km between Cyprus and Crete and 310 km between Crete and mainland Greece. It will allow electricity transmission in both directions.[66]
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A new joint action committee for the Greek-Israeli alliance was created in the U.S. Congress in early 2013. The creation and goals of the Greek-Israeli Caucus under the name Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance were announced at a special event held in the Congress.[67] It is co-chaired by Congress membersGus Bilirakis the Republican representative from Florida andTed Deutch the Democrat from Florida, and the Greek-Israeli Caucus consists of powerful members of both Republican and Democratic party. It is estimated that it may become the most important pressure group in Congress by 2014.[68][69][70]
On 13 March 2013 in Washington the Israeli ambassadorMichael Oren hosted the launching of a new congressional grouping dedicated to improving Israeli-Greek-Cypriot ties.[71][72][73] Attending the launch were the co-chairmen of the newly established Hellenic-Israel Caucus,Ted Deutch andGus Bilirakis as well as lawmakers includingJohn Sarbanes andEliot Engel, the senior Democrat on the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren in his remarks at the dinner at his residence touted shared economic and strategic interests among Greece, Cyprus and Israel. The Greek ambassador Christos Panagopoulos in Washington announced that cooperation among the three countries would bring "peace, stability and prosperity" to the region. Also addressing the event was Olympia Neocleous, the chargé d'affaires at the Cypriot embassy in Washington.[74][75]
With the passing of Greek-American Leader Andrew Athens, the AJC has honored his pioneering work to advance Greek-Jewish and Hellenic-Israeli ties more than once. The most recent occasion occurred in recognition of Athens' 90th birthday before AJC's National Board of Governors and invited guests from the political and diplomatic communities, in his hometown of Chicago in 2011. Partnering early on with his cherished friend, the lateMaynard Wishner, a fellow Chicagoan and AJC national leader, Athens spearheaded a number of joint AJC and Greek-American delegations to Greece, Cyprus and Israel.[76][77][78]
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The arid topography of Israel has spurred Israeli scientists to develop innovative farming methods and desalination technologies. The start of an efficient desalination by Israeli scientists as planned will be a boost to many of Greece's islands such asSantorini that suffer inadequate freshwater reserves and must often rely on shipped water.[79][80] Agricultural Development and Foods Minister Athanassios Tsaftaris in a visit to Israel with Israeli Agriculture and Rural Development MinisterOrit Noked in 2011 emphasised that both governments are very interested in further boosting agricultural development.[81][82][83]
Many of the most prominent Orthodox Christian and Jewish interfaith officials, scholars and clerics held a three-day conference inThessaloniki in June 2013 to discuss the crucial importance of protecting the environment and religious values and condemned events of anti-Semitism and religious prejudice around the world. The meeting had an aim to help improve even further relations between these two ancient faith communities.[84]Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has declared 2013 the Year of Global Solidarity, thus Metropolitan Emmanuel declared: "It is well documented that Greeks living in Thessaloniki at the time of the Shoah stood with their Jewish neighbors and friends. Today, more than ever, we must stand together to battle the evils of anti-Semitism, religious prejudice and all forms of discrimination.".[83][85][86][87]
The presence of theRomaniote Jews in Greece and in modern Israel is historically important. The Romaniotes have used theJudaeo-Greek language for centuries in theirJewish prayer liturgy.[88]
With the financial help of theOnassis Foundation a faculty forByzantine and ModernHellenic studies in theUniversity of Haifa has been established, and many faculties for the study of theAncient Greek Culture are spread around Israel. In 2015 a faculty forJudaic studies was opened in theAristotle University of Thessaloniki with the financial help of theJewish community of Thessaloniki.[89]
Greek music is considered the most popular foreign genre in Israel after American and British music. Israel is the top destination for Greek music concerts alongsideGermany, theUnited Kingdom andCyprus.[90] Popular Greek singers who have performed in Israel includeManolis Angelopoulos,[91]Eleftheria Arvanitaki,George Dalaras,[92]Haris Alexiou,[93]Glykeria[94] andNatassa Theodoridou.[95] In December 2012 Natassa Theodoriou performed some of her songs inTel Aviv Performing Arts Center in Hebrew. In 2007 during the interview ofShimon Peres byHellenic Broadcasting Corporation on George Dalaras concert in Israel, President Peres stated: "In Israel we love the Greek music. For us Greece is a country but also a melody".[citation needed]
A special broadcasting day of Greek classical and modern music was organised on 12 June 2013 by theIsrael Broadcasting Authority, in cooperation with the Embassy of Greece inTel Aviv. The program started with an hourly show, presented by Ambassador Lampridis and the Director of the Radio Station Arie Yass with an emphasis on the roots and the historical evolution of modern Greek music. During the whole day, Kol Ha Musica broadcast works of modern Greek composers including Hatzidakis, Theodorakis, Spanoudakis, Remboutsika, Karaidrou, Mikroutsikos and Markopoulos. The programme also included Sephardi music fromThessaloniki andRhodes.
The Israeli radio showKol Shishi, hosted by Yaron Enosh, is almost completely dedicated to Greece and its culture, music, philosophy and history, and has an audience of approximately 800,000 Israeli listeners. In Israel there are 12 internet radio stations that broadcast exclusively Greek music.[96]
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Since May 1991,[98] diplomatic relations between the two countries have been upgraded from diplomatic representation to embassy level. Greece is represented in Israel through its embassy inTel Aviv, its Consulate General inJerusalem, and an honorary consulate inHaifa. Israel is represented in Greece through its embassy inAthens.
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