Israel has strongly condemned the controversial maritime agreement between Turkey and Libya, declaring that it lacks legal validity and reaffirming its support for Greece’s sovereignty and sovereign rights in the Eastern Mediterranean. The statement by Israeli Ambassador to Greece Pninat Yanai follows renewed regional tensions over the agreement and a diplomatic confrontation between Athens and Ankara at the United Nations Security Council.
In a statement published on X on Saturday, October 31, Yanai accused Turkey and Libya of attempting to establish maritime boundaries while disregarding the rights of Greek islands, including Crete and Rhodes. Her intervention came days after Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives approved the 2019 agreement, reversing its previous opposition and prompting objections from several regional governments.
Israeli ambassador rejects agreement and supports Greek position
“Israel strongly condemns this agreement and considers it to have no legal standing, no validity, and no legitimacy,” Yanai stated, emphasizing that the maritime claims disregard the entitlements of Greek islands under international law.
The ambassador specifically mentioned Crete and Rhodes, describing them as popular holiday destinations for Israeli visitors. She reaffirmed Israel’s position that Greece’s sovereignty and sovereign rights must be respected, adding that no bilateral agreement can undermine the legitimate rights of a third country.
Her statement was accompanied by a video excerpt from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ recent address to the UN Security Council, during which he described the Turkey-Libya memorandum as illegal and arbitrary.
“Geography cannot be rewritten. And sovereign rights cannot be erased by drawing arbitrary lines on a map,” Mitsotakis told the Security Council, arguing that the agreement effectively disregards the presence of major Greek islands between the Turkish and Libyan coastlines.
The renewed controversy follows Libya’s October 20 parliamentary decision to approve the agreement, originally signed in November 2019. Greece maintains that the memorandum has no legal effect on its sovereign rights, while Turkey insists that the agreement is valid and consistent with its interpretation of maritime delimitation principles.
Israeli media warn of strategic risks as Washington calls for dialogue
Israel’s position had already been expressed by its Foreign Ministry on October 21, when it condemned the Libyan parliament’s decision and accused Turkey of destabilizing the Eastern Mediterranean.
Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported that the memorandum could affect Israel’s long-term energy and maritime infrastructure plans. Eran Lerman, vice president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, described the Libyan decision as a troubling development, warning that the agreement could complicate underwater infrastructure connections involving Israel, Cyprus and Greece.
In a separate analysis, the newspaper examined Turkey’s growing influence in Libya and the implications for regional alliances. The report noted that Ankara’s improved relations with eastern Libya represented a diplomatic development, particularly because that faction had previously opposed the agreement.
The Israeli position contrasts with the more cautious language adopted by the US State Department.
In an initial response to Kathimerini on October 21, Washington encouraged Greece and Turkey to resolve maritime disputes through good-faith negotiations without explicitly questioning the memorandum’s legality.
However, in a subsequent statement published October 25, the State Department described Libya’s announced ratification as “unhelpful and provocative,” saying it had increased regional tensions.
Washington emphasized that its position remained unchanged and urged Greece and Turkey, both NATO allies, to address their disagreements through bilateral dialogue. Unlike Israel, the State Department did not explicitly declare the agreement legally invalid, maintaining its emphasis on negotiations and regional stability.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
