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Israel's Emerging Relations in the Eastern Mediterranean

(Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies-Bar-Ilan University) Col. (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman - Despite his roots in the country's traditionally anti-Zionist left, last month Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras paid a warm visit to Israel. So did Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades. Tsipras recognized that Jerusalem is, and will continue to be, "the eternal capital of the Jewish People" (while offering similar recognition to the Palestinian "state"). Neither Israel nor Greece was necessarily looking at the Turkish challenge alone when they embarked on a trajectory of intense cooperation in recent years. The Israeli government stood by Greece at its hour of need, willing to encourage Israeli investment and tourism, and there is hope for joint energy projects. Israel, Cyprus and Greece have all aligned themselves on one side in favor of the al-Sisi government in Egypt, while Turkey is on the other side. The powerful realization that Sisi is the barrier left standing against a descent into Islamist hell remains a driving force in Greek regional policy. The new geometry should not be seen as designed to harm Turkey or isolate it. Israel has largely increased commercial relations with Turkey and serves as a conduit for Turkish exports in the region. The Israel-Greece-Cyprus alliance does seek to block Erdogan's ambitions of regional hegemony, while at the same time offering Turkey a key place in the new Mediterranean political order, if and when it comes to its senses. The writer, who held senior posts in IDF Military Intelligence and at the Israel National Security Council, is a professor of political and Middle East studies at Bar-Ilan University.
2015-12-18 00:00:00
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