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Why Greece Is Looking Forward to Strengthening Ties with Israel
Then-Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen speaks during a press conference with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis at the Foreign Ministry in Athens, Greece, July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Louiza Vradi
The March 2025 visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Israel demonstrates the interest of both countries in further elevating their strategic partnership. Mitsotakis last visited the Jewish State toward the end of October 2023, two weeks after Hamas’s massive terrorist attack on Israel. On his more recent visit, Mitsotakis reiterated the urgency of releasing the hostages. Greece continues to regularly make symbolic gestures of solidarity and sympathy with Israel. On March 25, for instance, Greece’s Embassy in Israel chose the dining room of Kibbutz Be’eri to celebrate the country’s national day.
Both President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the Greek leader, calling him a “good friend.” Although Greece’s attitude after October 7 has been rather balanced, the country has not wavered in its recognition of Israel’s right to self-defense and understands both Israel’s complex security environment and the pain caused by terror. In an emotional moment, Herzog and Mitsotakis discussed plans to launch an academic scholarship program in memory of Ionas Karussis, a young architecture student who was murdered by terrorists in October 2024 in Jaffa. His parents were invited to the meeting by the Israeli president.
The visit of the Greek PM to Israel was the culmination of a broader diplomatic initiative. In early February, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetris went to Jerusalem, and a few weeks later, his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar flew to Athens. Defense cooperation was very much on the agenda. Mitsotakis’s visit included a strategic meeting with the Directorate for International Defense Cooperation (SIBAT) of Israel’s Ministry of Defense that was attended by key executives from Israel’s defense industry. They included Boaz Levy from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Yoav Turgeman from Rafael, and Miki Edelstein from Elbit Systems.
All three of these companies – IAI, Rafael and Elbit Systems – have been active in Greece. IAI acquired Greek company Intracom Defense for a reported figure of approximately €60 million. Rafael supplied SPIKE Missiles to Greece, an agreement valued at approximately €370 million. Elbit Systems is the primary contractor managing technical operations and refining the training infrastructure of a modern Greek air force base in Kalamata, Peloponnese. The deal is worth a reported $1.65 billion.
New arms deals are possible. The Greek government’s objectives include the development of an anti-aircraft and missile defense system for Greece that is similar to Iron Dome and the acquisition of PULS rocket launchers by Elbit Systems. While discussions progress, the two countries are engaging in joint military training. Although Israel is still fighting wars on multiple fronts, it is participating (through mid-April) with G-550 aircraft in the multinational air exercise Iniochos hosted at the Andravida airbase in Western Greece.
There are other areas where Israeli experience might be useful for Greece. In 2016, Shimon Peres proposed to then-premier Alexis Tsipras that the obligatory military service of Greek men be used to support national research. The proposal has not yet materialized. Further to this, the Greek army can study how the IDF has incorporated soldiers with autism within Unit 9990 and perhaps employ a similar methodology in the future.
In strategic parlance, Greece and Israel lack an identical perception of threats. Greek strategy naturally prioritizes Turkey. Israel is not ignoring the Turkish factor but has more urgent issues to address, including terrorist organizations and Iran.
While the formation of a Greek-Israeli military alliance per se seems unlikely, deeper cooperation is in the interests of both. Such cooperation is also an American interest. The Trump administration is currently engaged in other diplomatic and military initiatives but is expected at some point to look favorably on the 3+1 mechanism (with the participation of the Republic of Cyprus).
Good relations with Israel have become crucial to the design of Greek foreign and military policy. All the mainstream parties in Greece, irrespective of their political ideology, agree on the necessity of further improving bilateral ties. A 2024 survey conducted by the European Leadership Network showed that the majority of parliamentarians in Greece (and in the Republic of Cyprus) favored not only closer relations with Israel but also a deepening cooperation between Israel and NATO.
Fifteen years have passed since the historic visit of then Greek premier George Papandreou to Jerusalem. His meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu was a gamechanger for Eastern Mediterranean affairs. The practical results of the synergies between the countries overcame decades of stereotypes and mistrust. Premier Mitsotakis is reinforcing this trend, and his recent visit to Israel was a reflection of his determination in this regard.
Dr. George N. Tzogopoulos is a BESA contributor, a lecturer at the European Institute of Nice (CIFE) and at the Democritus University of Thrace, and a Senior Fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy. A version of this article was originally published by The BESA Center.
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US State Department Revokes Visas of UK Punk Rap Act Bob Vylan Amid Outrage Over Duo’s Chants of ‘Death to the IDF’
Bob Vylan music duo performance at Glastonbury Festival (Source: FLIKR)
The US State Department has revoked the visas for the English punk rap duo Bob Vylan amid ongoing outrage over their weekend performance at the Glastonbury Festival, in which the pair chanted “Death to the IDF.”
The State Department’s decision to cancel their visas would preclude a planned fall concert tour of the US by the British rappers.
“The [US State Department] has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants. Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X/Twitter on Monday.
During a June 28 set at Glastonbury Festival, Bob Vylan’s Pascal Robinson-Foster ignited a firestorm by leading the crowd in chants of “Death, death, to the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces. He also complained about working for a “f—ing Zionist” during the set.
The video of the performance went viral, sparking outrage across the globe.
The BBC, which streamed the performance live, issued an on‑screen warning but continued its broadcast, prompting criticism by government officials for failing to cut the feed.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and festival organizers condemned the IDF chant as hate speech and incitement to violence. The Israeli Embassy in London denounced the language as “inflammatory and hateful.”
“Millions of people tuned in to enjoy Glastonbury this weekend across the BBC’s output but one performance within our livestreams included comments that were deeply offensive,” the BBC said in a statement following the event.
“These abhorrent chants, which included calls for the death of members of the Israeli Defense Forces … have no place in any civil society,” Leo Terrell, Chair of the US Department of Justice Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, declared Sunday in a statement posted on X.
Citing the act’s US tour plans, Terrell said his task force would be “reaching out to the U.S. Department of State on Monday to determine what measures are available to address the situation and to prevent the promotion of violent antisemitic rhetoric in the United States.”
British authorities, meanwhile, have launched a formal investigation into Bob Vylan’s controversial appearance at Glastonbury. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they are reviewing footage and working with the Crown Prosecution Service to determine whether the performance constitutes a hate crime or incitement to violence.
United Talent Agency (UTA), one of the premier entertainment talent agencies, dropped the duo, claming “antisemitic sentiments expressed by the group were utterly unacceptable.”
The band defended their performance on social media as necessary protest, stating that “teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place.”
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Dem House Leader Hakeem Jeffries Urges Mamdani to ‘Aggressively Address’ Antisemitism in NYC if Elected Mayor
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
US House Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY) urged Democratic nominee for mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani to “aggressively address the rise in antisemitism” if he wins the general election in November.
“‘Globalizing the intifada’ by way of example is not an acceptable phrasing,” Jeffries said Sunday on ABC’s This Week. “He’s going to have to clarify his position on that as he moves forward.”
“With respect to the Jewish communities that I represent, I think our nominee is going to have to convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in antisemitism in the city of New York, which has been an unacceptable development,” he added.
Jeffries’s comments come as Mamdani has been receiving an onslaught of criticism for defending the controversial phrase “globalize the intifada.”
Mamdani first defended the phrase during an appearance on the popular Bulwark Podcast. The progressive firebrand stated that he feels “less comfortable with the banning of certain words.” He invoked the US Holocaust Museum in his defense, saying that the museum used the word intifada “when translating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising into Arabic, because it’s a word that means ‘struggle.’”
The Holocaust Museum repudiated Mamdani in a statement, calling his comments “offensive.”
Mamdani has continued to defend the slogan despite ongoing criticism, arguing that pro-Palestine advocates perceive it as a call for “universal human rights.”
Mamdani, the 33‑year‑old state assembly member and proud democratic socialist, defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other candidates in a lopsided first‑round win in the city’s Democratic primary for mayor, notching approximately 43.5 percent of first‑choice votes compared to Cuomo’s 36.4 percent.
The election results have alarmed members of the local Jewish community, who expressed deep concern over his past criticism of Israel and defense of antisemitic rhetoric.
“Mamdani’s election is the greatest existential threat to a metropolitan Jewish population since the election of the notorious antisemite Karl Lueger in Vienna,” Rabbi Marc Schneier, one of the most prominent Jewish leaders in New York City, said in a statement. “Jewish leaders must come together as a united force to prevent a mass Jewish Exodus from New York City.”
Some key Democratic leaders in New York, such as US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul, have congratulated and complimented Mamdani, but have not yet issued an explicit endorsement. Each official has signaled interest in meeting with Mamdani prior to making a decision on a formal endorsement.
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Israel Eyes Ties With Syria and Lebanon After Iran War
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar attends a press conference with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (not pictured) in Berlin, Germany, June 5, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Christian Mang
Israel is interested in establishing formal diplomatic relations with long-standing adversaries Syria and Lebanon, but the status of the Golan Heights is non-negotiable, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday.
Israeli leaders argue that with its rival Iran weakened by this month’s 12-day war, other countries in the region have an opportunity to forge ties with Israel.
The Middle East has been upended by nearly two years of war in Gaza, during which Israel also carried out airstrikes and ground operations in Lebanon targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah, and by the overthrow of former Syrian leader and Iran ally Bashar al-Assad.
In 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco became the first Arab states to establish ties with Israel since Jordan in 1994 and Egypt in 1979. The normalization agreements with Israel were deeply unpopular in the Arab world.
“We have an interest in adding countries such as Syria and Lebanon, our neighbors, to the circle of peace and normalization, while safeguarding Israel‘s essential and security interests,” Saar said at a press conference in Jerusalem.
“The Golan will remain part of the State of Israel,” he said.
Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981 after capturing the territory from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. While much of the international community regards the Golan as occupied Syrian land, US President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over it during his first term in office.
Following Assad’s ousting, Israeli forces moved further into Syrian territory.
A senior Syrian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Syria would never give up the Golan Heights, describing it as an integral part of Syrian territory.
The official also said that normalization efforts with Israel must be part of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and not carried out through a separate track.
A spokesperson for Syria‘s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The 2002 initiative proposed Arab normalization with Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from territories including the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and Gaza. It also called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Throughout the war in Gaza, regional power Saudi Arabia has repeatedly said that establishing ties with Israel was conditional on the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Israel‘s Saar said it was “not constructive” for other states to condition normalization on Palestinian statehood.
“Our view is that a Palestinian state will threaten the security of the State of Israel,” he said.
In May, Reuters reported that Israel and Syria‘s new Islamist rulers had established direct contact and held face-to-face meetings aimed at de-escalating tensions and preventing renewed conflict along their shared border.
The same month, US President Donald Trump announced the US would lift sanctions on Syria and met Syria‘s new president, urging him to normalize ties with Israel.
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