Eyeing Turkey, Netanyahu boosts Greece, Cyprus ties ahead of US visit
Worried about the increasing empowerment of Turkey across the Middle East, Israel is making a show of neighborhood strength with Greece and Cyprus.
TEL AVIV — At a tripartite summit with the leaders of Greece and Cyprus on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a clear stand against Turkish participation in the Gaza Strip’s peacekeeping force and reconstruction.
“To those who fantasize they can reestablish their empires and their dominion over our lands, I say: Forget it. It’s not going to happen. Don’t even think about it,” Netanyahu said at a Jerusalem news conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. He was clearly speaking to his nemesis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A senior Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor that the comments were intended to lay the ground for Netanyahu's meeting set for Dec. 29 with President Donald Trump, at which the Israeli leader is widely expected to push back against Turkey's efforts to deepen its foothold in the Middle East, especially Gaza.
Alliance against Turkey
