What Israel Elections Means for Greece as Aegean Tensions Rise

by · Greek City Times

Greece is closely monitoring Israel’s political developments following the October 27 election, given the strategic relationship between the two countries in defence, energy and regional security, according to an analysis by Maria Mourelatou published in Ta Nea.

Although Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party secured the largest number of parliamentary seats, it failed to obtain the majority required to form a government. Netanyahu therefore remains caretaker prime minister while the process of forming a new administration continues.

According to Mourelatou’s analysis, Netanyahu’s continued presence in office offers Athens short-term reassurance, providing continuity at a time of uncertainty surrounding Greek-Turkish relations and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Greece is awaiting developments over Turkey’s proposed legislation concerning the so-called Blue Homeland doctrine, as well as the possible resumption of work on the Greece-Cyprus-Israel electricity interconnection project. Against this background, the absence of an immediate change in Israel’s leadership represents a development that Athens does not view negatively, given Israel’s importance to Greece’s security interests.

Read more: Cyprus’ First Gas Field Moves to Construction After $1.8bn Deals

However, Greece has repeatedly made clear that its strategic relationship with Israel rests on the state itself rather than on any particular government or political leader.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently reiterated this position when responding to criticism of Greece’s strategic alignment with Israel amid international condemnation of the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.

“Greece’s strategic relationship is with the State of Israel, not necessarily with the current government,” Mitsotakis said.

He also stressed that cooperation with Israel had not weakened Greece’s traditionally strong ties with the Arab world and the Palestinian Authority. Nor, he added, had it prevented Athens from openly criticising the Israeli government when it considered that the government had crossed the line.

Nevertheless, the political direction Israel takes after completing its government-formation process remains important for Athens.

According to Mourelatou, Greece considers it important that Israel has a strong leadership capable of managing bilateral relations and wider regional challenges, particularly those involving Turkey.

This consideration comes as tensions in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean increase, regional energy arrangements undergo changes and countries negotiate new maritime agreements.

Beyond bilateral relations, Israel is also an important partner for Greece within the trilateral cooperation framework involving Cyprus. The partnership serves regional security interests and contributes to balancing Turkey’s influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Israel also forms part of the strategic 3+1 cooperation framework, which brings together Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the United States. The arrangement supports energy and other infrastructure projects while strengthening Greece’s role as a regional pillar of stability and an energy security hub.

Mourelatou’s analysis concludes that, regardless of who leads the next Israeli government, Athens will have a strong interest in maintaining a stable strategic partnership capable of helping preserve regional balances amid wider geopolitical uncertainty.

(Source: Ta Nea)

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