Greece and Israel

The current visit of Greek PM George Papandreou to Israel represents a new rapprochement between the two countries. The clear change in the international situation that caused this turnaround is the schism that has developed between Turkey and Israel. This has been initiated and extended by PM Erdogan in pursuit of his new Turkish turn to the east and towards Islam and away from the traditional Turkish secular policy. The improved relations with Greece are one positive outcome of Turkey's anti-Israel and anti-Western turn. Israel is also improving relations with Cyprus, the Greek southern part of the island, while Turkey illegally occupies the northen part of the island.

Erdogan used Operation Cast Lead in 2009 as an excuse to criticize Israel. Notably Israel has withdrawn completely from Gaza, but Turkey still occupies northern Cyprus. Israel launched this Operation only after suffering 8 years of rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza. While criticizing Israel, in sheer hypocrisy, Turkish forces have been attacking Kurdish villages in Iraq and killing innocent civilians. This is in pursuit of the PKK, the Kurdish freedom fighters, because Turkey fears the potential power of the Kurdish minority in its own country. Turkey denies self-determination to the millions of Kurds, while criticizing Israel for not giving autonomy to the Palestinians. Also, Erdogan used the clash with the Turkish aid flotilla to Gaza, that was supported by the Turkish government, to further separate itself from Israel.

Since it is impossble to be close friends with both Turkey and Greece at the same time, Israel preferred the former, as a large Muslim State. But, friendship with Greece, a small western Christian nation, is more appropriate for Israel. However, there have been barriers to this friendship, first the extreme leftist governments in Greece, including that of Andreas Papandreou, the current PM's father, who was very pro-Palestinian. Also, there has been a lot of Christian anti-Semitism in Greece, and the papers are often full of criticism of Jews and Israel. However, the Greek Government is now on the defensive, due largely to profligate Government spending that has caused the current economic crisis in Greece. Since Israel has avoided such a crisis and has a thriving economy, Greece has a lot to learn from Israel, and a good relationship could help Greece enormously.

Also, Turkey has lost a huge amount in tourist income, ca. 100,000 Israeli tourists have cancelled holidays or have decided to go elsewhere. Greece, if it is friendly to Israel, stands to gain a large percentage of this tourist income. The island of Crete, part of Greece, is close to Israel and is already popular with Israeli tourists.