The Israeli Maariv newspaper reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced in a brief statement on Thursday, 13 November 2025, that Acting National Security Adviser Gil Reich and military secretary Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman held meetings in Athens on Tuesday with their Greek counterparts on “political and regional issues.” The paper noted that behind the calm, formal phrasing lies a significant political-security initiative conducted away from public view and regarded diplomatically as strategically important.
According to the newspaper, the visit was not part of the routine contacts between “Jerusalem” and Athens. Sources familiar with the discussions said that dispatching two senior officials—who effectively direct the political–security work of the prime minister’s office—signals an attempt to revive dialogue frozen during the fighting in Gaza. These sources said the aim of the meetings was to revisit steps suspended over the past two years within the framework of bilateral relations.
Israel’s Netanyahu fires national security chief Tzachi Hanegbi.
Netanyahu’s office says he will appoint the deputy head of the National Security Council, Gil Reich, as acting head.
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Turkey at the Center of Talks
The sources added that the discussions focused on regional issues, especially Turkey, amid President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s continued and fierce criticism of Israel. They noted that Greece is now being considered for possible involvement in “day-after” arrangements in Gaza, including civil reconstruction and infrastructure projects. At the end of the discussions, both sides agreed to hold further ministerial-level meetings to advance political and security coordination.
Energy and Security Tracks Interlinked
Maariv pointed out that the visit came shortly after Athens hosted a 3+1 regional energy summit—Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and senior U.S. officials—where energy policy, underwater electricity cables, and new gas corridors from the Middle East to Europe were discussed. Israel sees Greece as central to its access to the European energy market and Europe’s effort to reduce dependence on Russian supplies.
The newspaper added that, according to Israeli sources, energy cooperation is directly tied to the security dialogue, with each track reinforcing the other and representing shared interests among the four parties.
Advanced Air-Defense Systems Under Review
In parallel, negotiations have advanced over the “Achilles Shield” project, an “ambitious” Greek plan for a multi-layered air-defense network. In recent months, the Greek Defense Ministry has resumed talks to purchase Israeli-made interceptor systems in a deal estimated at €3 billion.
The systems being considered include David’s Sling, SPYDER, and Barak MX, intended to replace outdated platforms and counter growing regional aerial threats. Talks halted during the Gaza war but have now resumed, with Israel viewing the project as central to strengthening ties with Athens.
Turkey’s Suspicion of the Greek–Israeli Alignment
According to Maariv, Turkey views Israeli cooperation with Greece and Cyprus with suspicion, interpreting it as an attempt to undermine Ankara’s position in the region and in the eastern Mediterranean. Israel insists the cooperation is based on shared interests and broader efforts to stabilize the region and deepen ties with active NATO members.
Sources involved in the talks acknowledged that resuming strategic dialogue with Athens amid Erdoğan’s hostile rhetoric carries a clear political message. Netanyahu’s circle sees the developments as evidence of a strengthening “Hellenic-Israeli axis,” a formation linking Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, aligned with Washington’s efforts to stabilize the eastern Mediterranean across political, security, and energy domains.
“Israel” Pursues a New Strategic Phase With Greece
Israeli assessments cited by the paper say that the Reich–Gofman visit, the reactivation of the Achilles Shield project, and the Athens energy summit all point to a single trend: Israeli–Greek relations are entering a new phase of strategic depth. Through this, Israel seeks to reinforce its regional standing and integrate more deeply into Western-backed energy and security structures in the eastern Mediterranean.
Even if officially framed as technical, the message—to Athens, “Tel Aviv,” and Ankara—is unmistakable: Israel is strengthening its alignment with Greece and Cyprus to consolidate its regional posture and reposition itself within the emerging post-Gaza Mediterranean order.
Global Condemnation and Diplomatic Isolation
In recent months, the Israeli occupation entity has been met with a wave of global revulsion and diplomatic isolation, as it faces mounting accusations of genocide in Gaza. A UN independent commission unequivocally concluded that Israel committed four of the five genocidal acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention—including killing, inflicting conditions of life meant to destroy, and preventing births—with “specific intent to destroy … Palestinians in Gaza.”
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has denounced the Israeli enemy’s conduct as “mass killing,” condemning not just widespread civilian deaths but also “the open use of genocidal rhetoric” and the “disgraceful dehumanization” of Palestinians by senior Israeli officials. Türk warned that the body of evidence is rapidly growing and that the Israeli enemy “has a case to answer” before the International Court of Justice.
Source: Al-Ahed News Website (Edited and translated by Al-Manar English Website)
