By Constantinos Filis
Greece was the last European country to officially recognize Israel in 1990, after having established diplomatic relations with Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1981.
After the fall of the Shah in Iran in 1979, the triangle consisting of Israel, Turkey and Egypt provided the American factor with a functional framework to counter Arab nationalism, Iran and other regional dangers. However, relations between Israel and Turkey broke down after 2009 and so did ties between Egypt and Turkey, following the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood. Greece saw a window of opportunity after 2010 in this new regional setting for developing relations with Israel and further consolidating those with Egypt. The intention was not to create an anti-Turkish axis – after all, Ankara is important to both these countries – but to promote cooperative schemes for stabilizing the situation, putting the emphasis on the economy, trade and energy. Greek-Israeli relations have, over time, acquired an additional dimension in the field of defense, though the Israelis were particularly hesitant in exchanging know-how until recently, even during joint military exercises. There is also Greek interest in research and innovation, where several Israeli companies are global leaders. Now, Athens is planning to purchase anti-aircraft systems from Tel Aviv and trust is being established for the provision of useful information between their respective state services.
What’s more, amid the turbulence in the Middle East, many Israelis view Greece as a highly attractive and safe destination, while investments have also increased significantly, mainly in real estate and less in tourism. Greece’s goal is for ties with Israel to prove resilient and not to be affected if, at some point in the future (rather distant and not near) Israeli-Turkish relations are restored. There is no doubt that there will be some effect on bilateral ties if this happens, but the goal is to prevent any reversals. It is noted that before Hamas’ terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had been convinced to meet in New York, following American encouragement (which may be repeated by US President Donald Trump), while diplomatic relations had been restored beforehand. Also telling is the fact that during the 10 year freeze in bilateral relations, trade between the two countries rose steadily, while at the private level, pipelines were even being planned that would connect Israeli deposits with the Turkish market, as well as the transportation of Israeli gas through Turkey.
After October 7, and until Trump’s inauguration, Erdogan issued harsh statements against Israel and especially Netanyahu on an almost daily basis. This made him very popular with the public in Arab countries and helped him politically with the Islamists in his own country, whose votes he was deprived of in the last local elections, which he lost in a big way. Therefore, apart from seeking to win over the Arab world, the convenient demonization of Israel has a strong domestic dimension too.
After Trump came back to power, Erdogan softened his tone and limited his verbal attacks on Israel, wanting to avoid being labeled an anti-Semite by the American president. In recent days, however, he has gone after Israel again, and for the first time his rhetoric about its destruction has matched that of Iran and its proxies. This has certainly become etched in the collective mind of the Israelis, bringing a different quality to the confrontation and constituting a turning point. Ankara is now being seen as the next Tehran, that is, an almost existential threat to Tel Aviv (it also wants to fill part of the regional vacuum left by Iran’s dramatic retreat) and from now on it will be treated accordingly, with everything this implies for its image in the United States and anywhere else where the Jewish-American lobby has access. The latest developments, with the Israeli airstrikes and the destruction of military bases in Syria, where Turkey could deploy weapons systems and forces, are revealing of the concern about Turkey’s possible transformation into a trans-regional power, neighboring Israel, through Damascus.
Greece should not become aligned with Israel, and especially not with its current leadership, which is driven by extreme perceptions both about the fate of the Palestinians and the wider region. We should invest in our relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which are disturbed by Israel’s policies, believing that it is attempting to contain them. They also regard Netanyahu, if not as a threat, then at least as an obstacle to peace. It is equally useful to intensify our contacts with other Arab leaderships, to undertake initiatives of a regional nature, for example for the protection of religious minorities, the dialogue of religious doctrines but also in the sphere of energy, so that we are firmly in the frame of those who shape developments. It is also important to organize informal meetings in Athens, in order to, on the one hand, bring entities that are in conflict closer together and, on the other, gain a better understanding of the regional dynamics. We should promote and capitalize on our contribution to the “peace and business” strategy, which is also the motto of the American leadership.
Source: Kathimerini
