Israel's outgoing ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, called Turkey under Erdogan a direct threat to regional peace in a wi...

Israel's outgoing ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, called Turkey under Erdogan a direct threat to regional peace in a wide-ranging interview with Kathimerini published ahead of his departure from Athens. Katz said Israel views Erdogan's government as "a source of instability" pursuing policies that undermine peace across the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. He singled out Turkey's support for Sunni Islamist organizations and its hosting of Hamas members on Turkish soil as specific concerns, adding that statements from both Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan are "dangerous and irresponsible." The ambassador warned that the climate of hostility fostered by Ankara's rhetoric could eventually translate into concrete action. Israel has raised its concerns with the United States and the broader international community, according to Katz. On Greek-Israeli relations, Katz described the partnership as genuinely strong, pointing to a meeting between the two prime ministers in Israel last December and the ongoing trilateral cooperation between Greece, Israel, and Cyprus under the "3+1" format. He said defense cooperation between Athens and Jerusalem goes well beyond equipment purchases and includes technology transfers and shared production capabilities. Katz also addressed the EuroAsia Interconnector energy project, acknowledging delays but insisting the commitment from both sides remains firm and that the project will ultimately be completed. On antisemitism, the ambassador said Greece's situation is better than much of Europe but warned that a small, violent fringe continues to intimidate people based on their identity. He described such tactics as fundamentally incompatible with democratic society. Katz also confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu formally acknowledged the Asia Minor and Pontic Greek catastrophes following conversations with Greek PM Mitsotakis, calling it the right and historically grounded step. #Greece #Israel #Turkey