Greek officials have agreed to allow Israeli tourists into the country without the need for mandatory two-week quarantine, Ynet learned on Wednesday.
Greece and Israel pledged back in June to work toward a resumption of bilateral tourism sometime in August if coronavirus precautions permit.
In a phone conversation between Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dandias, the two agreed that Greece would earmark specific locations that Israeli tourists would be allowed to visit, since countries in the European Union are not allowed to accept tourists from countries with high coronavirus infection rate.
Dandias is set to arrive in Israel on Thursday to finalize the details of the agreement, including the date for official resumption of flights between Israel and Greece.
Israel's coronavirus cabinet then would have to hold a vote to approve the move.
The two ministers also discussed shared concerns over Turkey’s energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, with Dandias later tweeting, "I spoke by phone to Israel FM Gabi Ashkenazi. Close Greece-Israel cooperation and Turkish illegal actions in eastern Mediterranean in focus."
Greece, Israel and Cyprus partnered up on energy projects in the eastern Mediterranean back in January, but Turkey has declared part of the eastern Mediterranean a shared exploration area with Libya and says it is within its sovereign rights.