It looks more likely that Israel will work with Cyprus and Greece than with Turkey

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Jan 28, 2016 at 20:09

Hi, R. Walter

The Israeli Prime Minister does not seem to be in a hurry to deal with the Turks. Meanwhile, he is also negotiating with Cyprus and Greece about much the same matters:

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Associated Press
Jan. 28, 2016, at 9:34 a.m.

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS, Associated Press

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel pledged on Thursday to work together to seize opportunities emerging from newly found offshore gas reserves in order to bolster stability and security in a region wracked by conflict...

Netanyahu said the leaders agreed to set up a tripartite committee to study the possibility of building a pipeline to carry natural gas found in waters off Israel and Cyprus to Europe via Greece...

The leaders said they would meet again in the second half of this year.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

-- http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2016-01-28/leaders-of-cyprus-greece-israel-meet-to-boost-cooperation
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Cyprus appears to be already more closely allied to Israel than to Europe, especially in terms of defense. Greece is more tightly bound to Europe -- or should I say, to "Greater Germany" -- but is not awfully happy there. As for the Turks, they are so desparate for friends, that I suspect they're looking for "any port in a storm" and will abandon Israel as soon as a better offer comes along -- such as one from Iran. When that happens, Israel will be glad to be on friendly terms with Greece and Cyprus, and to have its pipeline routed through Greece instead of Turkey.

One wonders, why Netanyahu is waiting until the "second half of the year" to take up the tripartite talks again. Several things will happen between now and then:

1. Greece will have a better idea how it stands, with an increasingly hostile EU and Germany,
2. The US political parties will have chosen their candidates for President,
3. Obama will have had a few more months to do crazy, unpredictable things
4. Erdogan will have a few more months of having to hold off doing the horrible, anti-Jewish antics that are so much of his nature, and
5. God only knows what the Iranians, Saudis and Egyptians will do that might alter circumstances

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