Turkey’s unilateral actions jeopardise stability in Mediterranean - Israeli FM

Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lior Haiat expressed concern over developments in the Eastern Mediterranean on Friday and reiterated Israel’s support for Greece in the face of its dispute with Turkey.

“Certain unilateral actions taken by Turkey may escalate and pose a threat to fragile stability in the region,” Haiat said, adding, “Israel reiterates its full support and strong solidarity with Greece in its maritime zone and its opposition to any attempt to violate these rights.”

2/2 Israel reiterates its full support and strong solidarity with Greece in its maritime zone and its opposition to any attempt to violate these rights.

— Lior Haiat ?? (@LiorHaiat) October 23, 2020

Israel is part of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), signed into official status in September, together with Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Jordan and Egypt. The Palestinian Authority is also part of the energy forum. 

Turkey rejects that it has been escalating tensions in the region, and says its neighbours in the Mediterranean have taken on “maximalist and hostile policies” against the country.

The Turkish government maintains that Turkey and Turkish Cypriots in the northern third of the Mediterranean island are entitled to a share of the natural resources in the Mediterranean, where rich reserves of hydrocarbons have been discovered in recent years. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan allowed Palestinian militant group Hamas to open an office in Istanbul in 2012, and reports have emerged that Hamas has been operating a cyberwarfare centre in the Turkish megacity.