From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Netanyahu talks with Greek FM about energy, UN votes and Iran
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
In his meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focuses on energy cooperation, telling National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi to put together a trilateral meeting with Greek and Cypriot leaders to discuss the issue.
Dendias is the first foreign minister of an EU state to visit since the current Israeli government came to power in late December.
Netanyahu also says that he hopes the strong bilateral ties between Jerusalem and Athens will be reflected in Greece’s votes at the UN.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two also discuss preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Dendias tweets that the conversation focused on the eastern Mediterranean, energy and investment. “Excellent bilateral relations reaffirmed,” he writes.
Netanyahu is joined by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Hanegbi, Military Secretary Avi Gil, Israel’s envoy to Greece Noam Katz and Greek Ambassador Kyriakos Loukakis.
Earlier in the day, Dendias met with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. In his public statements after the meeting, Dendias blasted Turkey, which “systematically violates our territory, our airspace, uses hybrid tactics, escalates tension, issues open threats… of invasion and aiming ballistic missiles at Athens.”
Cohen calls the strategic partnership between Israel and Greece “an Israeli, regional, and European interest” that can help solve the global energy crisis.
The Times of Israel Community.