Israel, Greece And Cyprus Sign A Gas Pipeline Deal Over Turkey's Objections

Al Jazeera: Greece, Israel, Cyprus sign gas pipeline deal, angering Turkey

Accord creates new tensions between Greece and Turkey as Ankara says EastMed project cannot proceed without its consent.

The leaders of Greece, Israel and Cyprus met in Athens on Thursday to sign a deal for an undersea pipeline that would carry gas from new offshore deposits in the southeastern Mediterranean to continental Europe - a move that has riled Turkey.

The 2,000-km (1,243-mile) EastMed pipeline is intended to provide an alternative gas source for energy-hungry Europe, which is currently largely dependent on supplies from Russia and the Caucasus region.

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WNU Editor: This is why Turkey is against this deal .... Turkish Cyprus describes EastMed agreement as 'provocative attempt to exclude Turkish Cypriots' (Hurriyet Daily News)

More News On Israel, Greece And Cyprus Signing A Gas Pipeline Deal Over Turkey's Objections

New Pipeline Deal Gives Europe Access To Eastern Mediterranean Gas Reserves, Angering Turkey -- Forbes
Greece, Israel & Cyprus ink EastMed gas pipeline deal amid Turkish outcry -- RT
East Mediterranean gas pipeline project can't succeed, Ankara says -- Hurriyet Daily News
Israel, Greece and Cyprus sign gas pipeline deal -- DW
Greece, Cyprus, Israel Sign EastMed Gas Pipeline Deal To Ease Reliance On Russia -- Eurasia Review
Is Turkey Trying to Sabotage Massive New Israel-Cyprus-Greece EastMed Gas Deal? -- Ariel Ben Solomon, Al Gemeiner/JNS.org

Israel, Greece, And Cyprus Agree To Develop Energy Projects Together

DNA: Cyprus, Israel, Greece close ranks with gas pipeline

Netanyahu said the three countries were to form a trilateral committee to study plans to build a pipeline between Israel and Cyprus and on to Greece for gas exports to Europe.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades hosted a three-way meeting today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras focused on plans to build a gas pipeline to Europe.

With Cyprus, which lies just 100 kilometres from the Syrian coast, on the fringes of a region wracked by conflict, the three countries say cooperation holds the key to regional stability. While the alliance has emerged around gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean, water resources and tourism were also high on the agenda of the talks, said Cypriot government spokesman Nikos Christodoulides.

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Update #1: Leaders of Cyprus, Greece, Israel meet to boost cooperation -- AP
Update #2: Cyprus, Israel, Greece see gas pipeline as peace catalyst (AFP)

WNU Editor: The dynamics behind this get-together is interesting. Greece needs money, Cyprus needs money, and Israel needs money and allies in the region. Since no one else wants to work with them, they have gotten together to see what they can develop.

The Israel-Cyprus Alliance Angers Turkey

Israel, Cyprus Sign Military Deal To Protect Energy Resources -- M&C

Athens/Nicosia - Israel and Cyprus signed a military agreement Thursday, allowing the former to use the airspace and territorial waters around the eastern Mediterranean island to protect vital energy resources.

The search and rescue agreement, signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Cypriot President Demetris Christofias, will allow the Israeli air force and navy to enter Cypriot space in the case of accidents or actions against oil rigs in their exclusive economic zones.

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More News On the Growing Israel - Cyprus Relationship

Israel and Cyprus upgrade ties -- Globes
Netanyahu discusses energy cooperation in Cyprus -- Reuters
Israel, Cyprus Ink Historic Energy Search Deal -- CRIEnglish
Netanyahu Says Common Pipeline With Cyprus Being ‘Studied’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Netanyahu Says Energy Tops Agenda on Cyprus Visit -- Naharnet
Israeli leader pays historic visit to Cyprus -- Boston.com/AP
Turkey protests Greek Cyprus over new gas tender -- World Bulletin
Turkey Warns Greek Cyprus on Oil Drilling Ahead of Israeli PM Visit -- Turkish Weekly
Cyprus accuses Turkey of bullying over gas find -- Daily Star
Cypriot FM: Turkey threatening Israel and Cyprus -- Jerusalem Post