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A Greek love affair
Itamar Eichner
Published: 18.10.10, 21:06
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33 Talkbacks for this article
1. "Greek public opinion of Israel is less forgiving"
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (10.18.10)
Despite the improved political and military-to-military cooperation, Droutsas concedes that Greek public opinion of Israel remains less forgiving. I'll start to believe the Greeks have gotten past their hostility toward Jews and Israel when we start seeing Greek tourists showing up in large numbers in Israel. It's also time that they start teaching about Salonika as a Jewish - not a Greek - city.
2. He forgot the most important trades of all
Tahl ,   Ashdod   (10.18.10)
Greece got Shum, Gershon, Halperin and Drucker, we got big Sofo.
3. Welcome to Israel Mr. Dimitris Droutsas
Moshe ,   Israel   (10.18.10)
4. Retreating from Turkey appears to be
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (10.18.10)
in full swing and this is certainly a healthy move for the Israeli nation.
5. @Raymond
greek ,   greece   (10.18.10)
Hundreds of Greek tourists are visiting Jerusalem every year during the Easter Holiday.As for Salonica we are very proud for its multicultural history including the jewish minority who lived and flourished here and continuous to do so in our country.
6. Greeks hate Jews, be wary
David ,   NJUSA   (10.18.10)
remember the Greek Bishop from Jerusalem who helped bombers.
7. Greece hates Israel and the Jewish People!
Gavriel ,   Budapest, Hungary   (10.19.10)
Greece is a traditionally extreme left-wing and sometimes anarchist country and so they continue to hate Israel and the Jewish People. I don't believe in this new "Greek friendship", they are the worst in the EU, the bottom of Eurabia. I like Greek culture and music, I visit the country but I know they dislike us!
8. A Couple divorce, both find new partners
Ibrahim ,   Ankara, Turkey   (10.19.10)
Israel and Turkey divorced....Bankrupt Greece beds Israel....Turkey re-marries with the world's newest superpower, China. and resurrects the Silk road thus diminishing Western influence in the ME, Central Asia and balkans. Turkey, China, Iran and OIC members ditch the US dollar...Classic!
9. Best alternative........
Edward ,   Philippines   (10.19.10)
for our brothers and sisters from Israel to chose the splendid beauty of Greece .The noble land of those many first converts who works together with those jewish "saints", for the propagations of the faith in the world. "Shalom".
10. Nato Ally
Max ,   washington DC   (10.19.10)
Greece has been called the cradle of Western Civilization and shares many values with Israel, which is the only Democracy in the Middle East. It is not to late for Turkey to turn away from alliances with Iran and Syria and confirm its committments to Nato and future EU entry., however Erdogan seems more inclined to continue hostile behavior towards Israel and the West.
11. they hate us because they are misinformed
ronen   (10.19.10)
12. Be wary of that lot
Cameron ,   USA   (10.19.10)
Greeks have always had a real "attitude" in relation to the US, and we in turn have always wisely kept a certain amount of distance with Greece. Not exactly certain the Greeks would turn out to be any better bet than the Turks at the end of the day in the Israeli hunt for allies. Moreover, they're Lefty to the bone, and busy running themselves into the fiscal ground, as we have all seen, so keep a watchful eye on Hellas.
13. to #1 you never meet Greek in your life
ghostq   (10.19.10)
all your statment is baseless, I happened to know greek people and trust me when I tell you r mega wrong. especially when many greek live in Israel.
14. to #8 china? actually no, more like Iran
ghostq   (10.19.10)
cause in China after the last Muslims riots they not much support of someone who got religion. communism is not very reliable regim to trust. especially when it make fun of people who do have religion.
15. "Israeli"-Turkish love affair is OVER :)
Salma ,   Palestine   (10.19.10)
"Israeli"-Greek love affair is alternative medicine !!
16. To #14- ghostq- Time to keep updated
Ibrahim ,   Ankara   (10.19.10)
I think you have been kept in the dark amount the recent developements between Turkey-China: (1) Turkey and China signed a Strategic Partnership Treaty on the 8th of October 2010 to the dismay of the EU, NATO & USA. (2) Turkish and PLA Air Forces conducted joint drills in Konya, Turkey on the 7th of October 2010. (3) China gave Turkey $30 billion in order to for it to build a high speed rail link between the two countries: The Silk road (4) China has offered licenced production of the HQ-18 missile system to Turkey. (5) China and Turkey agreed to increase its bilateral trade to $100 billion. (6) China and Turkey ditched the US dollar when trading. And the list goes on.....
17. Politics aside
R ,   Israel   (10.19.10)
Droutsas is way hotter than Erdogan
18. Greeks HATE Jews
Moshe ,   USA   (10.19.10)
Greeks hate Jews, just ask their Pali loving Church. So have no doubts about it, Greece is bankrupt and is grasping at straws, but deep inside they hate you. Greece is dying off, but Turkey is rising. . Droutsas is half Albanian (Dru means wood apparently) and half Scottish.
19. Blue & White
IL ,   ISRAEL#1   (10.19.10)
Great colours
20. No one can replace the position of the neo-Ottoman Turks!
Ibrahim ,   Ankara   (10.19.10)
* 70 million population & rising * Leader of the 1.6 billion muslim world (OIC) * $1 trillion economy and rising at 7.6% yearly growth (when countries are in recession) * 2nd largest standing armed forces in NATO - Third largest operator of the F-16 - One of three countries to licence produce the F-35 - Access to nuclear weapons (Pakistan weapons sharing treaty & NATO Nuclear sharing treaty) * Controler of critical Petroleum, water & gas pipelines (BTC, NABUCCO, Blue Stream) Israel needs to wake up and take steps at normalising relations with their Turkish cousins (Khazar Turks were Jewish & the first people to use the Star of David in there national flag).
21. Re . No 8
Anon ,   South Africa   (10.19.10)
You are misinformed. China has gone around the world signing deals with everyone under the sun (rising sun), even Israel. China is buying up assets and securing deals in Africa and South America. My question to you is why Ibrahim you think China is doing this. No, its not because they want to get closer to Turkey. It is because China needs natural resources to continue to grow and expand. If China sticks with Turkey Syria and Iran, they will not expand their reach on the world economy. As dismayed as you may be Ibrahim, China, if it came down to the crunch, prefers to associate themselves with the likes of USA, Europe, Russia the Gulf states (who fear Iran) , Australia and yes, even with Israel. Make no mistake, China values Turkey’s relationship, but prefers the west's 100 fold. Greece holds alot of value to Israel, and over time their friendship will be cemented. Turkey has lost a good friend and alot of credibility around the world
22. Greece has proven it could be a useful allly
zionist forever   (10.19.10)
Greece has proven itself to be a country we want to have as an ally. They have let the IAF practice long range exercises in Greek airspace. They also have the S-300 anti aircraft system Iran is after and they have been letting the IAF carry out exercises work out how to defeat the thing. Greece also operates much of the same hardware as Israel does so maybe Israel should investigate the possibility of setting up a small airbase in Greece. It means we will always have some operational planes able to come to our defense if Israel was ever attacked and its planes couldn't take off. Missiles and rockets have become am increasing threat to Israel in recent years so maybe its time to put some of our assets outside Israel for safety and able to be recalled. Greece also operates a less advanced version of the Dolphin submarine and Hizbollah have said they intend to go after navy ships including if possible submarines in any future war and we have only 1 deep water submarine base in Israel. If it was possible to base at least 1 sub in Greece where they already have the facilities to maintain that kind of sub it would be useful to Israel and Greece as Israel may be willing to upgrade the Greek subs. Greece has alot of potential to help Israel improve its security as well as being a place for Israelis to go on vacation. Best of all unlike Turkey its not a muslim state so less likely to side with the islamic world against Israel.
23. "Love affair"? Is it naivity or stupidity?
m   (10.19.10)
There are no "love affairs" between countries, there are pragmatic relations. Greece and Turkey have been enemies for a long time so it's convenient to both countries today, what will be tomorrow?
24. Greece - Israel
Alex ,   NY   (10.19.10)
Greece was already having a love affair with Iran and Arabs, while Turkey was allied with Israel. Now they swap partners. Greece has been a hotbed for Arab and Kurdish terrorists for many decades, as well as Greece's own homemade leftists terrorists. Greece is full of angry young men who easily picks up molotovs and throws around. Now, Greece can be a good buyer of Israeli hi-tech and military equipment. For that, Israel has to convince Greece to buy more and more weapons. It's sad for Greek people because more military spending is not what they need during their economic crisis. On a plus side for Greece, Israel can fight Greece's illegal immigrants from Asia and Africa. This would be a navy exercise for Israel in the region ;) Israeli tourists are not spending much money, they look for cheap deals and tend to harm hotels. Look at Italy, they are writing signs not to receive Israeli tourists. It is not good news for Greece to get more Israeli tourists.
25. To #21- You are mistaken
Ibrahim ,   Ankara   (10.19.10)
During PM Wen Jiabao's tour of Europe only one nation signed a "Strategic Partnership" agreement with China and that was Turkey. NATO member Turkey was also the only country who staged air drills with the PLA Air force. China and Turkey also agreed to increase bi-lateral trade to $100 billion and also ditch the US dollar when trading. Turkey and China also resurrected the Silk Road through a $30 billion rail link. The impact of this is mind bogging.
26. Romeo and Juliet! LOL
Ayla Akman ,   Turkey   (10.19.10)
awwww how sweet :-) typical greek behaviour! waiting on stand-by to grab an opportunity which enables them to win one over Turkey! lol Good Luck Israel. You might NOW think Turkey is a snake but at least Erdogan's Turkey (which I detest) is a snake without venom. They are just a bunch of Anti-kemalist Cowboys thats all. What was that famous saying again? ah yes "beware the greek bearing gifts". lol So Juliet what happen to your long term boyfriend Lebanon? You want a Romeo with prospects hey? I don't blame you darling!
27. Love affair
ORA ,   Jerusalem   (10.19.10)
A business love affair is give and take.What does Israel take?
28. Nostalgia for empire, Ibrahim?
Cameron ,   USA   (10.19.10)
29. To #28 Cameron- No Nostalgia just some facts
Ibrahim ,   Ankara   (10.20.10)
As a member of the Imperial House of Osman I am content with a republican Turkey. Not to mention the fact that democracy works very well in Turkey. However, what would you label Israeli ambitions for regaining the promissed land? What is the US doing in Afghanistam and Iraq? Imperialism perhaps? Turkey is simply trying to achieve Pax-ottamana in it's former dominions through new supra-national entities. The Presidency of Religious Affairs the current sussesor to the Imperial Ottoman Caliphate is also key to Turkey's new ambitions. If I was Israel I would be more comfortable with Turkish influence in the Islamic world than for example Saudi and Persian influence.
30. Greece would drop Israel for Turkey in a SECOND!
Levo ,   Istanbul, Turkey   (10.20.10)
The truth is Greece knows it has nothing to gain from the World's Undeclared Terrorist State of Israel whereas the EU candidate Turkey with the World's 2nd fastest growing GDP is an economic powerhouse of 75 million consumers to vet Greek investor's appetites! Furthermore the Greek populace mostly hate the Jews any way.
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