“The position of principle, but also the national benefit, dictates that Greece maintain the relations it has with the states of the region, including Israel, of course Palestine, but also all the adjacent and neighboring states” Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis emphasized from the floor of the Parliament. “It is this attitude that has been credited by all the states of the region, but also with the states involved, and Israel and the government of the Palestinian Authority” said Mr. Gerapetritis in response to a topical question from the Parliamentarian of Freedom of Navigation, Al. Kazamia, on the subject of “Greece’s continued support to Israel despite the intensifying accusations against this state of flagrant violation of the principles of International Law».

“It is precisely this attitude of principle and responsibility that allows us, at this moment, to have an important diplomatic capital and to contribute positively, not only on the issue of the cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian aid that must be provided, but even on the issues of the next day in the Middle East“, pointed out Mr. Gerapetritis.

He even announced, after the already undertaken initiatives for the Palestinian issue, “in the near future I will visit the Gulf countries, exactly in the context of the good services offered by the country”.

For his part, Mr. Kazamias said that “Israel wants to know that it can do everything, without losing friends.” He even called on the government “to take more drastic measures, including considering cutting off diplomatic relations with Israel.”

In response, Mr. Gerapetritis said that the issue of the severance of diplomatic relations should not be taken “lightly”. When no country of the EU, of the wider region, and none of the powerful countries have taken any initiative, I think it would not be to the benefit of the country, but it would also not be to the benefit of the Palestinian issue itself, said Mr. Gerapetritis .

Finally, he cited the statements ofof the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyadh al-Maliki, after their recent meeting in Athens (15/2/2024) “and from this, judge whether or not Greece has a principled and beneficial attitude towards the Palestinian issue: “I really shake the hand of the Greek Foreign Minister. Because he always has with him initiatives, ideas and always thinks about how to save all these people, how to stop the war, how to provide humanitarian aid, and how to really end this war. I believe that the minister is with us, he thinks faithfully, faithfully, how to find solutions outside of every context, to stop all these wars. I take this opportunity to thank my brother the foreign minister for all these efforts he is making. I shake his hand so that we can work together to achieve the goals we want.”