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Greek government stands in solidarity with Israel [Screenshot]
Welcome to the weekly round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. Against the backdrop of the unfolding situation in Israel and Gaza, both the Greek government and wider Greek society have attempted to process the news and images of extreme violence emanating from the region. Greece maintains close diplomatic ties with Israel, including through their common participation in the 3+1 regional framework initiative along with Cyprus and the USA, and Greek officials did not hesitate in expressing their solidarity with Israel, with the Hellenic Parliament also lighting up with the Israeli flag in an expression of support. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis communicated with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to convey his support for Israel’s right to self-defense, but like many others on the international stage spoke of the importance of protecting civilian lives in Gaza. The prime minister also convened an emergency meeting of the country’s ranking body on issues of foreign policy and defense, the National Security Governmental Council (KYSEA), on Thursday to discuss the Hamas attack and its implications for the Eastern Mediterranean. Amongst the body’s decisions are, in co-operation with the Frontex agency, an increase of Coast Guard patrols as well as along the Evros border, and increased police presence around potential terrorism targets including the Israeli and United States embassies, synagogues, Jewish schools and cemeteries, and Israeli businesses. The meeting also addressed the repatriation of Greek nationals from Israel, with Greece’s efforts also facilitating the return of citizens from several other countries. The United States Navy support base in Souda Bay on the island of Crete has also provided refuelling and logistical support to elements of the USS Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group that was ordered to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean. While bilateral relations between Greece and Israel remain strong, the Hamas attack undoubtedly altered the geopolitical landscape in the East Mediterranean. One immediate effect is the potential creation of temporary obstacles to further synergies between Greece, Israel, and other regional and international partners, including the signatories of the Abraham Accords, Saudi Arabia, and India. These obstacles are particularly obvious in the field of energy as many projects, including the proposed EuroAsia Interconnector that will link the Greek, Cypriot, and Israeli power grids, will naturally be put on hold while Israel is at a state of war. Spotlight
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OPINION
 [Reuters]Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s harsh rhetoric against America and Israel will set back the efforts he has seemingly undertaken lately to improve relations, among others, with the West and more specifically the US, but that should not impede the rapprochement underway between Athens and Ankara. For its part, Greece has made clear that it wants the existing channels of communication with Turkey to remain open and is taking steps to ensure that the improved atmosphere of the last few months continues. The planned meetings on the deputy foreign ministers level this week, and the ones on the Confidence Building Measures in November are on schedule, as is the High Cooperation Council set for December 7 in Thessaloniki. Still, there is concern that despite the fact that Ankara has recently been cooperating on the migration issue, Recep Tayyip Erdogan might reopen Turkey’s borders to increase the pressure on the West, which will obviously negatively impact on Greece being the frontline EU member state. For the time being, this remains a worst case scenario that might not materialize, but given the tense situations of 2015 in the Aegean and 2020 in the Evros border, Greece’s coast guard and other responsible authorities, in cooperation with Frontex, will increase patrols and deployment of personnel on land, to prevent a potential inflow of people. As Erdogan, in his effort to project himself as the leader of the Muslim world, is waging a campaign against Israel and the West, accusing Washington of protecting and arming terrorists and of sending its naval forces to the area in order to commit “a massacre”, the influence of western friends and allies who supported the Greek-Turkish dialogue, might wane. In this context the Turkish President’s antagonistic rhetoric and actions might delay the deliberations regarding the upgrade of older and the sale of new F-16s. Still, these developments and the wider context of the situation in the Middle East should not affect the decision taken by Athens and Ankara to engage in a less adversarial set up. An atmosphere of relative calm between them benefits both. The last thing anyone, including Turkey, wants right now is another source of friction and tension. |
| CHART OF THE WEEK |
 Increases in rent costs in Greece have outpaced rises in salaries for Greek workers in recent years. Indicatively, according to an international survey conducted by Online Mortgage Advisors, an average worker in Athens would currently have to dedicate 55.9% of their income to cover their rent, in comparison to just 42.4% five years ago. This discrepancy in the rates with which salaries and rent costs have increased means that in practice many households are worse off today, despite Greece’s resurgence in recent years following its exit from the frameworks imposed by the financial crisis. This is also true with asking prices for sales, with the purchasing power of workers having been eroded from an average of 6 sq. m. per annual salary to just 4.2 sq. m. |
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| ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL |
| “The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index snapped its six-week losing streak with a weekly rebound of 2.88%. The benchmark closed at 1,169.66 points.” |
| “The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises held its annual general assembly meeting this week and presented its proposals for several reforms to the Greek economy including lower labor taxes, a new framework to regulate labor relations, and increased participation by women and young Greeks.” |
| “Despite higher prices by an average of 15%, Greek hotels recorded an average occupancy rate of 86.1% this summer according to the data available for the period covering May to August. Seasonal hotels, that are only open during high season, recorded a 90% average occupancy rate.” |
| WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA |
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Editor's Pick President Joe Biden’s move to send naval and air force support to Israel is unprecedented and will have significant reverberations. These will also impact Greece, which took a very clear position in Israel’s favor.Alexis PapachelasRead the article |
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