UN’s Albanese accuses Israel of trying to ‘exploit’ Greece

Greece is making a mistake by deepening its cooperation with Israel in response to its insecurity toward Turkey, United Nations expert Francesca Albanese has said.

Speaking at an event in Athens over the weekend, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories – and a prominent critic of Israel – warned Greeks about their growing partnership with Tel Aviv.

“You Greek people believe you have chosen Israel to secure peace from your longstanding adversary, Turkey. I don’t think that is the case. Israel has chosen you, and it will exploit your fears and insecurities, because that is what Israel does,” Albanese said, speaking alongside leftist former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.

Albanese has been sanctioned by the US over her anti-Israeli activities and accused of promoting antisemitism by several European governments, including France and Germany.

Greece and Israel have significantly strengthened ties in recent years, particularly in the fields of energy and defence, while relations between Athens and Ankara have remained strained.

Amid ongoing maritime disputes, Turkey has warned that it would regard any Greek move to extend its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea from six to twelve nautical miles – in line with international sea law – as a case for war (casus belli). Ankara argues such a move would limit its access to international waters and threaten its naval security.

When asked by Euractiv whether Greece’s concerns over Turkey’s casus belli were justified, Albanese’s office declined to comment, citing her “demanding schedule”.

Turkey, meanwhile, has expressed its own long-standing concerns regarding Israel. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently suggested that, after Iran, Israel could “designate Türkiye as a new enemy”.

Israel’s ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, rejected such claims in an interview with Euractiv last week, stating: “We are against nobody.” He also called on Ankara to adopt a more constructive approach and to avoid destabilising the eastern Mediterranean.

Albanese’s remarks were welcomed by pro-government media outlets in Turkey.

A Greek government spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

(mk)