Israel has expressed its support and solidarity with Greece via multiple social media channels on Wednesday, amid tension in the Eastern Mediterranean between Greece and Turkey.
“Israel is closely monitoring the escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the Israeli embassy in Greece tweeted.
The statement continues, “Israel expresses its full support and solidarity with Greece, its maritime zones and the right to determine its EEZ."
Το #Ισραήλ παρακολουθεί προσεκτικά την αύξηση της έντασης στην Ανατολική Μεσόγιειο. Το Ισραήλ εκφράζει την πλήρη υποστήριξη και αλληλεγγύη του στην #Ελλάδα στις θαλάσσιες ζώνες της και στο δικαίωμα καθορισμού της ΑΟΖ της. #Israel #Greece
— Israel in Greece (@IsraelinGreece) August 12, 2020
Israel follows closely as tension arises in the Eastern Mediterranean. Israel expresses its full support and solidarity with Greece in its maritime zones and its right to delimit its EEZ. pic.twitter.com/nolfFVSmfa
— Lior Haiat 🇮🇱 (@LiorHaiat) August 12, 2020
Η πιο ξεκάθαρη δήλωση υποστήριξης των Ελληνικών θέσεων και Δικαιωμάτων και η πιο ξεκάθαρη καταδίκη των Τουρκικών ενεργειών ήρθε από τον πραγματικό και φυσικό μας Σύμμαχο στην Αν. Μεσόγειο, το Ισραήλ! Το ευχαριστούμε και δεν ξεχνάμε ποτέ τους φίλους μας @IsraelinGreece pic.twitter.com/XLV0ukA0zo
— Άδωνις Γεωργιάδης (@AdonisGeorgiadi) August 12, 2020
I support Greece! 🇬🇷🇮🇱
— Yair Netanyahu (@YairNetanyahu) August 12, 2020
The message came as the standoff between Greek and Turkey deepened this week with the arrival of Turkish seismic research vessel Oruc Reis in a disputed area of the Mediterranean, accompanied by warships. The Oruç Reis came from the Cypriot continental shelf and entered the eastern end of the Greek continental shelf .
Greece and Israel have become close allies in recent years, working together on energy projects such as the EastMed pipeline. The 1,900-kilometre EastMed pipeline, which has been in planning for several years, is intended to provide an alternative gas source for energy-hungry Europe, which is largely dependent on supplies from Russia and the Caucasus region.
Israeli Ambassador Yossi Amrani also met with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Wednesday. The talks focused on bilateral issues as well as the Turkish violations.
FM @NikosDendias met w/ #Israel Ambassador Yossi Amrani at @GreeceMFA – 🇬🇷🇮🇱 issues, Turkish illegal actions in #EasternMediterranean in focus / Συνάντηση ΥΠΕΞ Ν.Δένδια με Πρέσβη Ισραήλ Y.Amrani στο Υπ.Εξωτερικών –διμερή θέματα, τουρκική παραβατικότητα στο επίκεντρο pic.twitter.com/XWKpI0Aps6
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) August 12, 2020