The second panel, “Strategic Challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean,” took place at Bar Ilan University. This panel was cosponsored by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and B’nai B’rith. This, the concluding session of the COP’s 2016 Leadership Mission to Israel, was chaired by B’nei B’rith International President Gary P. Saltzman, with the participation of Hon. Panos Kammenos, Greek Minister of Defense; Amb. Giulio M. Terzi, former Italian Foreign Minister; Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs, Israel Ministry of Defense; and Col. (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman, of the BESA Center.
The Greek Minister of Defense explained, “The Greeks are a maritime people, the Mediterranean Sea is in our DNA.” He identified the primary threat to Eastern Mediterranean stability as ISIS and its criminal and terrorist activities; the war in Syria; Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus, and a host of other “unfriendly” policies; nuclear proliferation in the Middle East; and regional competition for influence, including an arms race among Muslim states.
He called for greater security cooperation with Israel for the stability of the region and its peaceful development and prosperity. “Greece, Israel and Cyprus do not wish to participate in an axis of failure.”
Amb. Terzi said that “the rule of law must preside over this region and in the Middle East.”
The former Italian Foreign Minister called for a “special partnership” between Israel and the EU, but cited resurgent anti-Semitism and the de-legitimization campaign against Israel as major obstacles.
Maj. Gen. Gilad attributed recent energy and security cooperation with Israel to the current leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Italy, calling it “good news.” Turning east he said that Iran continues by far to be the most serious security threat confronting Israel. To those who characterize Iran as a regional democracy he said the choices Iran provides its citizens are “bad, worse and worst.”
Gilad was optimistic about the opportunities for cooperation between Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Jordan, and Israel. While he considers reconciliation between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas to be an impossibility, he said that Israeli cooperation with the PA is based on common security considerations and analyses.
Dr. Lerman, referring to the new Mediterranean alliances in his remarks concluding the session said, “Israel has to stand on her own feet, but we do not need to stand alone.”
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