PM Benjamin Netanyahu met with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides today

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides today at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.

 Their encounter began with a private discussion, followed by a broader meeting. Attendees included: From the Cypriot delegation: Foreign Affairs Minister Constantinos Combos; Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister Giorgos Papanastasiou; Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna; National Security Advisor Tasios Tzionis; and Ambassador to Israel Kornelios Korneliu. From the Israeli side: Energy Minister Eli Cohen; Chief-of-Staff Tzachi Braverman; National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi; Foreign Policy Advisor Dr. Ophir Falk; Spokesman Dr. Omer Dostri; and Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik. Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his pleasure in welcoming President Christodoulides back to Israel, emphasizing the longstanding friendship between Cyprus and Israel.

They discussed various areas of cooperation including political, diplomatic, economic, and security issues. Netanyahu noted that the Middle East is undergoing significant changes due to the ongoing conflict, and both democracies share common values and interests, with a commitment to ensuring prosperity and security for their peoples. One key topic was the IMEC initiative, which Netanyahu described as transformative. He recently discussed this project with India's Prime Minister Modi, highlighting a desire for trilateral talks involving Israel, Cyprus, and Greece. Historical collaboration in this format is something they aim to renew promptly. Netanyahu also addressed concerns about global trade routes, particularly in light of recent attacks from Houthi forces, stressing Israel's determination to respond decisively while acknowledging Iran's role in supporting these threats. 
President Christodoulides reciprocated Netanyahu's sentiments, expressing his happiness to reconnect after his last visit following a Hamas terrorist attack. He extended his congratulations on Israel's anniversary and expressed solidarity regarding recent wildfires, noting the assistance provided by Cypriot forces. He emphasized the need to enhance bilateral relations in defense, intelligence, tourism, and trade, pointing out the existing 110 weekly flights from Israel to Cyprus and the potential for increased Cypriot visits to Israel. He also mentioned the importance of discussing regional developments, including the situations in Syria and Lebanon, along with ongoing trilateral cooperation that may involve countries like India and the United States. Looking ahead, he highlighted Cyprus' upcoming EU presidency and the opportunity to raise awareness about the region's significance in Brussels. Christodoulides also touched on the humanitarian issue of hostages, emphasizing the need for their release following a heartfelt meeting with the families of two hostages. In response, Netanyahu acknowledged their efforts to persuade Hamas to release the hostages, noting the lack of cooperation from Qatar in facilitating a deal that could have freed many captives. He stressed that the repatriation of both living and deceased hostages is a critical humanitarian and moral imperative. Christodoulides affirmed that the hostages' plight is strictly a humanitarian concern, devoid of political implications, to which Netanyahu lamented Hamas' disregard for humanitarian principles. He reiterated their commitment to increasing diplomatic and military pressure on the group. Netanyahu concluded by welcoming President Christodoulides once more to Jerusalem. 
Photos: GPO