Greece–Israel relations

Greek-Israeli relations

Greece	Israel

Greek-Israeli relations refers to the bilateral relations between Greece and Israel.

Relations between the two countries have been less warm in the late 20th century, however since 2008 they have become the strongest relations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Israel and Greece consider each other as their stronger collaborator in the aspects of military, intelligence, economy and culture. Both countries are part of the Energy Triangle which referred to the extraction of oil and gas from both Israel and Cyprus by 2015, which will be delivered to mainland Europe with a pipeline through Greece. The deterioration of Israel's relations with Turkey following the Gaza flotilla raid has heavily contributed to the strengthening of Greek-Israeli relations.

Greece and Israel today enjoy excellent diplomatic relations. Both countries are partners in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and members of the Union for the Mediterranean, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations. Relations between the two countries are reinforced by the over 2,000 year old Jewish presence in Greece (see Romaniotes), while Jerusalem is home to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, one of the original five Pentarchies of early Christianity.

Along with Cuba, Greece was one of only two Christian-majority nations to vote against the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. Following the signing of armistice agreements confirming Israel's survival in the aftermath of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Greece recognized the State of Israel on 15 March 1949, although it was diplomatically represented in Tel Aviv on lower-than-embassy level.

...
Wikipedia