Second meeting this year between Israel, Cyprus and Greece on energy issues

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades will hold a one-day summit on Thursday. The three first met together in January in Nicosia in what was hailed as the formation of a new “strategic alliance” in the eastern Mediterranean, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Israel is currently weighing three options for exporting recently discovered natural gas. The first is to export to Egypt for its needs. The second is to export to Turkey, a country keen on diversifying its energy supplies, and the third is to lay a pipeline to Cyprus and then to Greece. This option is by far the most expensive, the report explained.

Natural Infrastructures, Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz said following a meeting with his colleagues from Greece and Cyprus in September that the underwater pipeline was “one of the most promising projects” under examination.

Diplomatic officials said that Thursday's meeting will be a follow-up to the January summit. Following that summit the countries pledged closer cooperation in seven fields: energy, tourism, research and technology, environment, water management, anti-terrorism and migration.

The cooperation is controversial as Greece has always been a strong advocate for Palestinian rights.
Paul Antonopoulos
 [almasdarnews.com]
 3/12/16
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