Greek, Israeli Prime Ministers in Energy Talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met yesterday (Wednesday) in Jerusalem to discuss a number of bilateral issues, including energy. The meeting took place on the heels of Mr. Netanyahu's meeting 10 days ago with the Cypriot president, Nicos Anastasiades

In their remarks, released by the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister, both leaders mentioned a desire to cooperate on energy issues. According to that press release, Mr. Tsipras said that development in the energy sector will enable cooperation in "research, drilling and natural gas transmission from Israel to Greece". The two leaders also discussed the need to stabilize the region and stop the spread of Jihadism. Mr. Tsipras will on Thursday visit the Palestinian Authority for a meeting with president Mahmoud Abbas.

Although Mr. Tsipras's visit to Israel was planned in advance it came at a delicate moment in Middle East politics, just one day after Turkey downed a Russian jet fighter in a controversial incident that highlighted the conflicting interests of the various players in the region. The two leaders were very likely to have discussed the situation in the middle east following Tuesday's incident.

In the last few months, Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Egypt and Russia have created an axis while Turkey remained isolated on the sidelines, a phenomenon that has been highlighted in the incident over either northern Syria, if the Russian version of events are accurate, or over southern Turkey, if the Turkish version is.

Israel, Greece and Cyprus are scheduled to hold talks in Nicosia, Cyprus, in mid-January next year.