Solemn ceremony in Athens: Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Steinitz signs agreement on gas pipeline between Israel and Europe • Prime Minister of Greece: "Agreement of strategic importance"

• PM Netanyahu with Greek Prime Minister and President of Cyprus // Photo: IP

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz yesterday signed an agreement on the installation of a gas pipeline from Israel to Europe in Athens.

Ministers from the Greek government, Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis and former ministers of economy and energy were also present, along with Cyprus President Nikos Anastasadis and the Cyprus Minister of Energy. Previously, Netanyahu held separate meetings with the Prime Minister of Greece and the President of Cyprus, in which they discussed further cooperation, including in the field of security.

Yesterday's trilateral meeting, Israel-Cyprus, was the seventh meeting of the states, but this time the East-Med gas pipeline agreement was signed.

Netanyahu and Steinitz take off for summit in Greece ahead of gas export agreement to Europe // Photo: GPO

Prior to boarding, Netanyahu said: "There are those whose entire business is 'just not Bibi.' We are doing great things for the State of Israel, such as the agreement we are now advancing, after many years that Minister Steinitz has worked on.

The agreement to lay the gas pipeline from Israel through Cyprus, Greece to the Italian coast was also to be signed with Italy. Minister Steinitz told "Israel Today" that "Italy will not sign the agreement today for internal reasons there, but it will join it in the coming months."

Later, a formal appeal was made to the Italian government from the news agency of Greece to find out the reason for their absence from the signing ceremony, to which only a junior representative was sent. In response, the Minister of Economic Development, Stefano Petuanelli, sent a letter of support for the agreement to the Greek Minister of Energy and Environment, Custis Hididakis. The Italian minister wrote that his government supports the important venture signed with Israel. The invitation sent by the minister who hosted the meeting yesterday was sent to Israel, Cyprus and Greece, stating that it was an "agreement of regional cooperation and regional peace".

"Alliance in the Middle East"

Minister Steinin brought with him the agreement signed by the states. The agreement was signed by the ministers from the three countries, and after the signing of the Prime Minister of Greece Mitsutakis said it was an agreement of diplomatic and strategic importance to countries and the whole region, which has security implications.

Greek Prime Minister thanked US for support of the agreement, referring to the recent Trump bill that bears the name of this venture. After the Greek Prime Minister spoke in Greek and Cyprus President also spoke in Greek, Netanyahu surprised when he asked to speak in Hebrew, only after he spoke in Hebrew Repeated them in English, for the benefit of those present. Netanyahu said: "We can give hundreds of billions of shekels of income to Israel in the years to come because of this venture. It is also a historic day because of the cooperation between the countries that is of security and political importance - not against anyone, but for the good of our country. We call on any country that wants to join the venture; To Italy, but also to other countries. We now have a specific alliance in the Middle East. "

The reporter joined the PM's entourage in Athens